Trades and Free Agency Could Continue Despite Impending Lockout

With yet another snag in the current CBA negotiations and an NFL lockout on the horizon, much attention has been focused on the NFL Draft as the only refuge and source of action this off-season. The impending lockout has put more emphasis and pressure on GM’s to recruit talent and to draft more based on need because of free agency being put on hold for the significant future. This has been most taxing on the multiple teams that need to address the quarterback position, and as a result, has drawn significant attention to an otherwise weak quarterback class.

Well, have no fear, because it appears that there is still a glimmer of hope that free agency and the trade market may just be permitted after all. According to Sports Illustrated writer Peter King, citing sources close to the labor negotiations, it appears that trades and free agency could be allowed as early as late April, despite having no new collective bargaining agreement. If the NFL Players Association “Decertifies”, which is almost certain at this point, and the owners institute a lockout, the Players Association will seek an injunction that would allow the 2011 off-season to continue on as scheduled, with both free agency and trading being permitted. This injunction would be brought to Judge David S. Doty, who has weighed heavily toward pro-labor during his tenure. The NFL owners would almost certainly appeal the decision, but the appeal process could take some time, and free agency and trading might still be permitted while the process takes its course.

This could completely shake up the NFL Draft, as it would now allow teams to address their needs on the peripheral, and not solely through the draft. Much discussed players such as Kevin Kolb, Donovan McNabb, and possible free agents such as D’Angelo Williams and Mark Bulger could fill several voids throughout the league, completely altering the landscape of teams’ draftboards, and subsequently, a multitude of mock drafts. More importantly, this would open up opportunities for prospects to fall to other teams that may have otherwise been drafted already. The next month or so should be very exciting to follow, so be sure to stay tuned to realtalkfantasysports.blogspot.com for the latest news, and updates as your source for the 2011 NFL Draft.

-Augie Tieri

Source: Sports Illustrated/Peter King

Jets Projected Picks Rounds 1-7

After making the AFC Championship game in each of the last two seasons, it’s time for the New York Jets to take the next step and reach the Super Bowl. Gang Green is in position to win now, but in order to remain championship contenders for many years to come general manager Mike Tannenbaum and head coach Rex Ryan must continue to have success in restocking the roster through the draft. After acquiring cornerback Antonio Cromartie from the San Diego Chargers last year, the Jets don’t have a second-round pick this April, so they aren’t likely to trade up in the first round. The following is a 1-7 round mock draft of projected Jets selections.

Round 1: Justin Houston, outside linebacker, Georgia

The Jets haven’t had a dominant pass-rusher in their defense since John Abraham left after the 2005 season. In order to be a complete defense, Gang Green will at the very least need a consistent pass-rushing threat who could give the team 10-15 sacks a season. At 6-3, 270 pounds Houston appears to be that type of player.

In 2010 Houston racked up 10 sacks and 18 tackles in the backfield while playing outside linebacker and defensive end in Georgia’s system. He also recorded an interception.

Ryan loves versatile talents, and Houston has shown he can be effective in a three-point stance at defensive end or standing up as a linebacker. The Georgia Bulldog product has also shown he has the athleticism to drop into coverage and disrupt the opposing quarterback’s passing lanes.

Houston turned out to be a pleasant surprise in many ways for the scouts at the NFL Combine a couple weeks ago. Originally thought of as an undersized defensive end, he weighed in at a solid 270 pounds, and wowed scouts with his big hands (10 ⅞ inches), long arms (34 ½ inches), and wide wingspan (81⅝). Additionally, he displayed an impressive array of skills by posting a 36 ½ inch vertical jump, a 10-5 broad jump, and a 4.68 second 40-yard dash.

Last season the Jets got only a combined 17 sacks from the trio of Calvin Pace, Jason Taylor, and Bryan Thomas. With the release of Taylor last week, it would be wise of Tannenbaum and Ryan to fill that hole with a young talent such as Houston.

Justin Houston highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR0L2RVId90

NEW FACEBOOK PAGE

Check us out now on Facebook. Tell your friends!!!!!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Real-Talk-Fantasy-Sports/159019437486465

The Return Of Tiki Barber

In an attempt to remain relevant following his failed attempt at a television career, it appears that Tiki Barber has announced that he wishes to return to the National Football League. At age 35, and in a year that has the potential to be filled with plenty of free agent running backs such as D'Angelo Williams, Joseph Addai, Ronnie Brown, and possibly even Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw, it seems rather unusual that Tiki Barber would announce his return to football. To his credit, nearly 5 full years removed from football has more than likely kept his legs fresh, and his early retirement spared him the relentless punishment that most running backs endure, but it is hard to believe that after 5 years off from football he will be able to jump right back in and play at a high level. Perhaps the New England Patriots are seeking yet another past their prime running back to add to their collection, and hey, there's always the Raiders, but chances are, Tiki's only real shot at playing football this year would be if he re-united with his old buddy Jim Fassel and played for the Las Vegas Locos in the UFL.

I can't wait to hear your opinions...Post your comments below!

Giants Projected Picks Rounds 1-7

GIANTS Projected Draft Picks

Round 1: Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College

HT: 6' 7"  WT: 311lbs

There is no question that the Giants need to address their aging offensive line. Castonzo is one of the most athletic offensive linemen in the draft, but still possesses the strength, footwork, and aggressiveness to be an effective run blocker. He is a smart player and should be able to step in right away and make an impact. 

Round 2: Bruce Carter, OLB, North Carolina

HT: 6' 2"  WT: 241lbs

The Giants have had quite a bit of luck when drafting players out of North Carolina. (Lawrence Taylor, Hakeem Nicks) Carter tore his ACL toward the end of the college season, but before he did, he was one of five finalists for the Butkus Award. Carter started virtually every game in his college career, and has an interception for a TD in each of the last two seasons. He is aggressive, explosive, and versatile. He can cover, stuff the run, rush the quarterback, and even block kicks. (6 blocked punts and 1 blocked field goal) If he hadn't torn his ACL, he very likely would have been a top 20 pick. Carter could end up being a huge steal, and will fill a major void at the OLB position that the Giants have failed to effectively address for several years.

This Year's Draft Is the Key to the Giants Future



Without a doubt, this years draft can be make or break for the New York Giants. Looking back to all the great Giant teams of the past, they were all built from successful drafts. The Parcells teams of the 80's were virtually built from scratch with legendary players such as: Lawrence Taylor, Joe Morris, Carl Banks, Mark Collins, Mark Bavaro, Maurice Carthon, Leonard Marshall, Bart Oates, and the list goes on and on. It was this core of young talent who were added to the existing veterans such as Phil Simms, George Martin and Harry Carson to produce the most dominant Giants team ever assembled.

Lawrence Taylor  Picture Source: ESPN







By 1990, the draft class from the early to mid 80's became the core veterans, and George Young and Bill Parcells had added a couple more vital pieces through the draft such as Rodney Hampton, Jumbo Elliot, Doug Riesenburg, Dave Meggett, Stephen Baker and Mark Ingram. This ultimately put them over the top during their improbable run that culminated in one of the most dramatic super bowl victories in NFL history against the Buffalo Bills.



Jets need a dominant defensive player up front

Since Mike Tannenbaum was promoted to general manager of the New York Jets in 2006, the team has added a ton of talent through the draft and free agency. Whether it’s been Eric Mangini or Rex Ryan as Gang Green’s head coach, Tannenbaum has made very shrewd draft picks, compiling a core group of players that includes franchise quarterback Mark Sanchez, a load of a running back in Shonn Greene, a pass-catching tight end in Dustin Keller, an impact inside linebacker in David Harris, a multi-faceted contributor in Brad Smith, and Pro Bowlers in cornerback Darelle Revis, left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, and center Nick Mangold. Tannenbaum has also done an outstanding job with his free agent pickups and trade acquisitions, which have included cornerback Antonio Cromartie, inside linebacker Bart Scott, nose tackle Kris Jenkins, running backs LaDainian Tomlinson and Thomas Jones, and wide receivers Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes.

Tannenbaum has had his busts—Vernon Gholston, most notably—but there aren’t many general managers in the NFL today who can match what he’s supplied for his coaching staffs over a five-year period. As one goes down the list of players Tannenbaum has picked in the last five drafts, however, it’s difficult to not find it alarming that the balding, overweight general manager has selected just two defensive linemen—Gholston, who was supposed be the Jets’ DeMarcus Ware but failed miserably, and 2006 seventh-round choice Titus Adams, who never played a down for Gang Green.

With Revis, Cromartie, Dwight Lowery, and 2010 first-round pick Kyle Wilson, the Jets had perhaps the best group of cornerbacks last season. Ryan is one of the preeminent defensive schemers, and Harris and Scott form a formidable tandem at inside linebacker. Put it all together, and Gang Green had a defense that was among the elite in the NFL for the second straight year in 2010. Even so, there has been a missing element: dominance from the three down linemen and two outside linebackers. And with the release of Gholston, Jenkins, and Jason Taylor this week, and with free agent defensive end Shaun Ellis turning 34 in June, the Jets are now thin on the defensive line. The only starting defensive linemen currently under contract are nose tackle Sione Pouha and defensive end Mike DeVito, neither of whom is worth writing home about. Thus, the Jets are in a bad spot up front.

Ask any football coach who knows what he’s talking about, and he’ll tell you that the battle is won in the trenches. Of course a team needs a good quarterback to be a consistent winner, but if the best passer won a championship every year, Eli Manning and the New York Giants wouldn’t have been triumphant over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. With Sanchez, the Jets seem to be set at quarterback for years, and their offensive line is among the best in the NFL. Now it’s time to find some defensive players who can get after the opposing quarterback.

If free agency ever begins this offseason, there are a couple defensive linemen the Jets can grab, including Shaun Rogers and Marcus Spears. But the top priority for Gang Green should be to retain their own players, as Cromartie, Ellis, Edwards, and Holmes had their contracts run out after last season, and Brad Smith, starting strong safety Eric Smith, and kicker Nick Folk were hit with the worthless restricted free agent tenders on Wednesday. That leaves the draft as the best place for the Jets to address their needs.

Draft

The Jets don’t have a second-round pick this April, as they traded it away to the San Diego Chargers for Cromartie last year. So, it’s imperative that Tannenbaum hits on his first-round selection. Although Texas A&M’s Von Miller, Alabama’s Marcell Dareus, Purdue’s Ryan Kerrigan, North Carolina’s Robert Quinn, Cal’s Cameron Jordan, and Wisconsin’s J.J. Watt are all expected to go in the top 20, here are some defensive linemen and outside linebackers who may fall to the Jets at the 30^th overall pick:

Baylor nose tackle Phil Taylor

It wasn’t long ago that Taylor was considered a second- or third-round talent. But when a defensive lineman is 6-3 1/2, 337 pounds and possesses the ability, strength, and technique Taylor does, chances are he’s going to be a first-round pick. And just like that, in recent mock drafts Taylor has gone as early as the 18^th overall selection, to the San Diego Chargers.

According to Scott Wright’s NFL Draft Countdown, Taylor is “very strong, powerful and physical” and “does a terrific job of stuffing the run.” He is “stout at the point of attack and can anchor,” and is “able to take on and occupy multiple blockers.” He has “violent hands and uses them well,” and is “aggressive and plays with an edge.”

Taylor does have some character concerns, as he was dismissed from the Penn State Nittany Lions in 2008 after being involved in a fight at a frat party, forcing him to transfer to Baylor. Wright also mentions that Taylor is “not very fast, quick, agile or explosive” and he “doesn’t always play with proper leverage,” which can explain why he’s “awfully limited as a pass-rusher.”

http://www.draftcountdown.com/ScoutingReports/DT/Phil-Taylor.php

In 2010 Taylor had 62 tackles, seven of them coming in the backfield, and two sacks. As a guy who plays with swagger and a mean streak, one could say he’d be a perfect fit in Ryan’s defense.

Phil Taylor highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezk5xKe_vHg

Daniel Thomas...He's Got A Little Rodney Hampton In Him

Don't be completely shocked if the Giants have a new look backfield this year. It's time to refresh the running game. Daniel Thomas just has the look of a classic Giants running back. At 6'1" 230lbs, he runs in the 4.5 range, and has some shiftiness for a big back. Might be worth taking a serious look at in the 2nd or 3rd round.

Post Your Comments Below and Let me know what you think...

-Augie Tieri

10 Things I am Thinking About Following the Combine

As much as you know you shouldn't put too much stock in the combine, you find yourself glued to the television like it was an episode of the Jersey Shore. (Let's not pretend that you don't watch that trainwreck too) More than ever before, the NFL Draft has become the most captivating event because of the impending possibility of a long, drawn out CBA negotiation, this might be the one and only NFL event we can hold onto for quite some time. In addition, with free agency on hold, this is the only hope our teams have of improving their rosters any time soon. So like I said, I know I shouldn't put a lot of stock in the combine...but...

10 Things I am Thinking About Following the Combine:

1:  After watching Cam Newton throw out-routes at the combine, I couldn't help but think he was trying to hit Chan Gailey in the face while he sat in the crowd in an effort to try to deter the Bills from drafting him. Why else would he throw the ball 50 yds over the recievers' head?


2:  I know there are many Giants fans ranting and raving about Martez Wilson right now. Before you get too excited about his blazing fast 4.49 40 time he posted at the combine watch some film on him:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCcIIuMGi2M&feature=related

You'll find yourself asking...where did the speed go? Oh, and when "Mister Softie" "attempts" to take on blocks...not impressed


3:  On the opposite end of the spectrum was Greg Jones, MLB, Michigan St.  I had very high hopes for him, love his film, toughness, and on the field production...then he shows up at the combine and tanks (4.7 40 time, and merely above average in other events) In the end, I think Greg Jones will be a better football player than Wilson and I feel that all this will do is drop him down to a 3rd or 4th round pick which will only help the Giants in the end


4:  Was the combine in Miami this year, or does Todd McShay get spray tanned between every shoot? And where was Mel and his perfectly quaffed hair doo? Mel Kiper is still the man...One of the only reasons I still watch ESPN over NFL Network on draft day


5:  Wow was Akeem Ayers slow! If Jim Burt ran the 40 with a refridgerator strapped to his back he would have beat Ayers. Ayers ran a 4.8 40 on Sunday...that will probably knock him out of the first round. He looked as if he would have been the perfect fit for the Jets, but with that kind of speed, they mind as well have kept Vernon Gholston


6:  I wasn't too high on Kris O'Dowd after he got abused at the senior bowl practices, but after his showing at the combine, he is back on my radar. Plus you have to love his character:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZwd2__ahMY&feature=related

I would definitely take a 3rd or 4th round flyer on him


7:  I am going to be extremely upset if the Cowboys trade up and take Patrick Peterson...this kid is going to be the next elite lockdown corner in this league. In my opinion, he is the best player in this draft.


8:  What are the Jets going to do with their 1st round pick? I liked Ayers and he runs a 4.8...I liked Rahim Moore and he runs a  4.7...I liked Justin Houston, but he probably won't fall that far....now what? Any suggestions? Muhammed Wilkerson anyone?


9:  Carson Palmer has $80,000,000 in the bank? I know that guy makes a ton of money, but $80 million....really? How did he manage to save that kind of money?  Does he live in a cardboard box? Live on Ramen noodles?


10: All I kept hearing was excuses as to why the most elite QB's in college football couldn't hit a wr running against air..."they are throwing to guys they aren't familiar with"...If I took Jeff George and dropped him off in the middle of the field from a helicopter like a scene out of a vietnam movie, handed him a football, and told him to hit some mid-round WR prospect on a seam route, he would more than likely drill him in the face...Why can't anyone seem to hit the broadside of a barn at this combine? I think Charlie Sheen could have completed one of those out routes Cam Newton threw into the stands. Is it me, or is this qb class extremely overrated because of the desperate need for qb's in this draft? 
   

-Augie Tieri

Mallett steals show at NFL Combine

A day after being cold to reporters, which provided another blemish to pile on to what has turned into a bad reputation at one of the worst possible times in his young career, Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Ryan Mallett put on a quite a show for coaches, scouts, and general managers during the NFL Combine's throwing sessions this afternoon in Indianapolis. According to ESPN's John Clayton, Mallett was the most impressive of the quarterback bunch.

Mallett wins first major passing competition: Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett put on an impressive show with the first group of quarterbacks, edging out University of Washington quarterback Jake Locker, who bounced back nicely from a subpar Senior Bowl. Mallett's strong arm was on display Sunday. On deep seam routes, he was flawless. His fastball delivery on out passes was impressive. Though he struggled with turn-in passes to his left, he was perfect on four throws to his right on post corners and showed great touch on his deep passes.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2011/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=6164692

So, finally, something positive is being written about Mallett, who's been put down repeatedly in the last month with whispers of his alleged drug use and his intelligence being questioned. While the vicious rumors are alarming, after two very successful years with the Razorbacks and today's workout, there's no doubt that Mallett is one of the best quarterbacks in this draft. Should he fall to the mid-rounds, whichever team picks him may get a huge steal.

Source: ESPN

Mallett’s stock continues to plummet

During about an hour’s worth of interviews with the media on the third day of the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Ryan Mallett was very cold with reporters as they peppered him with questions about whispers of his alleged drug use. The following is from a report by Yahoo! Sports Jason Cole:

Mallett walked away from the podium leaving the questions hanging unanswered in a series of bumbling, and sometimes pompous, replies that had reporters shaking their heads.

Mallett started off defensive and then repeatedly bobbed and weaved his way around the drug questions. He neither denied nor admitted use. Fair or not, some might conclude that the rumors are true.

The very first question in the interview was about the allegations, which shouldn’t have been a surprise. But it seemed that way to Mallett.

“First question, huh?” Mallett said, perhaps expecting that a bouquet of flowers was headed his direction. He then said, “When I saw that stuff, I laughed about it.”

After that came a series of further half-baked answers that led to more inquiries.

“I said I’m not going to talk about it here,” Mallett said, indicating that he would answer the questions only to NFL teams. Keeping secrets in the NFL about drug use is about as likely as growing palm trees on an iceberg.

Mallett then played the blame game, saying, “Obviously, someone did that for a reason, right before the combine.” In reality, the rumors about Mallett have been swirling for months.

Then there was this cocky gem of an answer to questions about his decision-making on the field. Many around the NFL have been troubled by Mallett’s propensity for big mistakes in critical moments. When asked how he answers those concerns, Mallett said: “Seven thousand-plus yards and 60 touchdowns in two seasons. That’s how I respond to that.”

Jim Druckenmiller, Andre Ware and David Klingler are among dozens of guys who have put up stats like that in college only to do nothing in the NFL.

Still, the daunting question about Mallett came back to the alleged drug use. He stonewalled again and again until he was asked bluntly: “This question isn’t going away until you answer. Why not just answer it?”

“Because I don’t want to talk about it,” Mallett said.

Mallett doesn’t seem to get it. His biggest problem isn’t the nature of the rumor. It’s that he wasn’t upfront. He wasn’t candid. No one was expecting him to detail his problems to the media, if he indeed has them. But at least own up to making mistakes in a general sense if you’re not refuting the claims.

If Mallett had said something like, “Yes, I’ve made mistakes and I’m working to correct them,” the questions would largely go away. Instead, Mallett looked like the antithesis of a leader.

In a profession where handling yourself in front of critics – sometimes 80,000 of them on a Sunday afternoon – is a prerequisite, Mallett flopped.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AuFMXhfxbT4EvdJE9G4xhaVDubYF?slug=jc-newtonmallettinterviews022611

It wasn’t long ago that many experts thought Mallett could possibly be the #1 overall pick in April’s draft. But with the negative press he’s been receiving lately, many mock drafts have him falling to the third round. And after today’s interview session, one has to wonder why he keeps digging himself into a deeper hole.

Mallett is expected to throw for the scouts, coaches, and general managers Sunday. He’ll need quite an impressive performance to atone for today’s awful show in front of the reporters.

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Did the Jets take the right quarterback in the 2009 draft?

He’s won four playoff games so far in his young career, quarterbacking the New York Jets to the AFC Championship game two years in a row. He has most Jets fans bragging about him being the best passer the franchise has had since Hall of Famer Joe Namath was airing it out on the field—and painting the town red—in the late-1960s. On more than a few occasions he’s come through in clutch situations in his 37 starts, playoff games included. He also has a superior postseason winning percentage to the New Orleans Saints’ Drew Brees, San Diego Chargers’ Philip Rivers, New York Giants’ Eli Manning, and even the Indianapolis Colts’ great Peyton Manning’s. In fact, the only active starting quarterbacks with higher winning percentages in playoff games than this young man’s are the New England Patriots’ Tom Brady, Pittsburgh Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger, and Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers.

So why question the Jets’ decision to trade up for Mark Sanchez in the 2009 NFL draft? Because there’s a quarterback in Tampa Bay by the name of Josh Freeman, another 2009 first-round draft pick, and he himself is putting together quite an impressive resume. During the 2009 draft Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum didn’t trade much to move from pick #17 up to the Cleveland Browns’ selection at #5 in order to get Sanchez, the hotshot quarterback from USC. In the deal, the Jets gave up the 17th pick, their second-round selection (#52), defensive end Kenyon Coleman, third-string quarterback Brett Ratliff, and reserve defensive back Abram Elam. That’s a very cheap price to pay for a franchise quarterback, but if the Jets had stayed at #17, they still could have had Freeman, the rifle-armed thrower from Kansas State who ended up being snagged by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with that same 17th overall selection Gang Green had to begin the day. (After acquiring the 17th pick from the Jets, Cleveland then traded two spots down to the Bucs’ #19 selection. The Browns received Tampa Bay’s sixth-round pick in the deal.) Rex Ryan, who was hired as the Jets' new head coach in January of 2009, was infatuated with Sanchez after seeing him work out about a month prior to the draft. “We saw the great feet, the poise and how confident he was,” Ryan said. “[Offensive coordinator] Brian [Schottenheimer] put him through every workout known to man and he passed every one of them with flying colors. We knew, I think, right then that this was the guy we really wanted.” Ryan and his staff also thought Sanchez was ready to start right away, and they were proven correct. Freeman, on the other hand, was considered a less-polished, rawer prospect who needed more time to develop. That may have been true, but it was to a very slight degree, as Freeman was named the Bucs’ starting quarterback in Week 9 of his rookie year and hasn’t relinquished the job since. As stated earlier, Sanchez has already been to the playoffs twice in his career, while Freeman has yet to reach the postseason. The two didn’t walk into the same situation, however, as the Jets were better set up than the Bucs for immediate success. And while Freeman has talent to work with in Tampa Bay’s offense (running back LeGarrette Blount, tight end Kellen Winslow, and wide receivers Mike Williams, Arrelious Benn, and Sammie Stroughter), Sanchez has played with an all-star lineup in wide receivers Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes, tight end Dustin Keller, and running backs Shonn Greene, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Thomas Jones. Sanchez has also dropped back to pass behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, led by left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson and center Nick Mangold. The two young quarterbacks put up similar stats in their rookie year, but Freeman blew Sanchez away as a sophomore. In 2010, Freeman posted a 95.1 passer rating by completing 61.4% of his passes—at 7.3 yards per attempt—for 3,451 yards, 25 touchdowns, and just six interceptions. Sanchez, meanwhile, posted a 75.4 passer rating by completing just 54.8% of his passes—at 6.5 yards per attempt—for 3,291 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. In fact, Sanchez was so poor at one point late in the season, Ryan considered benching him. In addition to Freeman’s superior stats, he also has a stronger arm, is more mobile (364 rushing yards to Sanchez’s 105), and is more stout in the pocket. And while Freeman hasn’t seen postseason action yet, he has shown he can also come through in clutch situations, as evidenced with his five game-winning drives in the fourth quarter during the 2010 season, just one shy of Sanchez’s six. Freeman was particularly outstanding in the second half of last season, when he threw 15 touchdown passes and just one interception in the Bucs’ final eight games. Following his lead, Tampa Bay posted a 10-6 record, which is usually good enough to make the postseason, but the Green Bay Packers, who also finished 10-6, edged out the Bucs on a tiebreaker. With Freeman at quarterback, though, and a large group of up-and-coming young talent, Tampa Bay looks like a team that will be competing for NFC supremacy pretty shortly. But while Freeman has Sanchez beaten in several categories, Sanchez is the one who’s proven himself come playoff time. In the 2009 playoffs Sanchez posted a 92.7 rating by completing 60.3% of his passes—at 7.9 yards per attempt—for 539 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions. And this past postseason he compiled a 95.5 rating while completing 60.7% of his passes—at 7.1 yards per attempt—for 616 yards, five touchdowns, and just one interception. Without his outstanding efforts, the Jets likely wouldn’t have recorded upset road wins over the San Diego Chargers, Indianapolis Colts, or New England Patriots in the last two postseasons. Sanchez has played his best in the playoffs, and that shouldn’t be sneezed at. If Sanchez continues to progress in postseason action, it’s probable that he’ll win a Super Bowl title for the Jets. Should that happen, nobody will question the move Gang Green made to get him in the 2009 draft. Until then, however, one can still wonder if the Jets should have stayed at pick #17 and selected Freeman.