Two unheralded, but important players from the 2011 season officially left the Patriots for greener pastures and big checks on Wednesday.

Defensive end Mark Anderson jumped ship and joined Mario Williams and the Bills to form potentially the best defensive line in the league.

And when you look at his contract, you see why. The six-year veteran inked a fat four-year, $27.5 million contract with $8 million guaranteed. That’s a number New England no intention of meeting considering Anderson didn’t even play 50 percent of the snaps last season.

Although he was a good fit as a hybrid 3-4 outside linebacker and 4-3 defensive end, Anderson’s track record indicates he’s no more than a very good situational player. The Bills paid him starter’s money.

Anderson was one of many low-risk, high-reward signings the Pats made for 2011, and the former Chicago Bear resurrected his career and his wallet with a 10-sack season, racking up 2.5 more in the playoffs. The 6-foot-4, 255-pounder has struggled as a full-time player, but should still put up good numbers in Buffalo considering he’s playing on an elite defensive line. The Bills boast a formidable defensive tackle duo of Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus and recently handed Mario Williams the biggest contract for a defensive player in league history.

While Anderson was certainly a solid player, fans will probably hurt more over the loss of steady running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis. The 27-year-old former undrafted free agent signed a three-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals after racking up 29 touchdowns in 53 games as a Patriot.

The Law Firm lacks a great burst and doesn’t contribute much in the passing game, but he’s lauded for his excellent ball security (zero career fumbles), vision and toughness. However, after the Patriots drafted Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley last year, it would have been tough to envision Green-Ellis returning.

His reliability will be missed, but I think it’s time for the youngsters to shoulder the load, and their athleticism, speed and fresh legs should help bolster an average running game.

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If you’re a gambling man (or woman), it’s a safe bet that the Patriots will draft a defensive back in the first two rounds. Hell, they’ve done it in four straight drafts.

Unfortunately, the results have been a mixed bag.

2008: Patriots select Colorado cornerback Terrence Wheatley with the penultimate pick of the second round. He was rated as a fifth- or sixth-round pick by NFL Draft Scout, but the Pats felt he had the quickness and speed to become a shutdown corner. Instead, he did nothing to disprove the theory that he was injury prone and he’s already on his fourth team.

2009: After trading back, the team selected Oregon safety Patrick Chung with the 34^th overall pick. His best traits were his experience (51 starts) and physicality. However, he’s been banged up during his three-year career and hasn’t completely evolved into becoming the next Rodney Harrison. 2012 could be a make or break year for the young, energetic leader.

That same year, the Patriots took Connecticut cornerback Darius Butler with the 41^st pick. Some scouts and analysts thought he could have been the top corner in the draft due to his supreme athleticism. Boy were they wrong. Butler got toasted in coverage and his confidence declined. He was cut after just two seasons.

2010: Everyone thought the Pats needed a corner, but most people didn’t have Rutgers corner Devin McCourty on their radar. New England traded back and passed on guys like Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas to take the four-down player who turned in one of the best rookie seasons by a corner of all time. Unfortunately, McCourty looked slower and was terribly inconsistent in 2011. They need him to rebound to 2010 form if this secondary has any shot at redeeming itself.

2011: Another injury-prone corner with a second-round pick? I’ll take it! Instead of trading the 33^rd pick, Belichick stayed put and took Virginia corner Ras-I Dowling. He was once pegged as a top-25 selection but fell because of an injury-marred senior season. After an excellent Pro Day workout, he moved back up the board, but ultimately could be found on the sidelines after lasting only two games. Dowling does have the upside to be a good starter, but it’s difficult to put much faith in him considering his checkered medical history.

And now we’re in 2012. Cornerback is still a need, and the safety position could still use some depth even after the signing of Steve Gregory. While the draft is deep at corner, it’s glaringly weak at safety. Let’s take a look at five prospects who could become future Patriots.

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Two weeks ago, I wrote on this blog that I thought Peyton Manning would be the next quarterback of the Denver Broncos. Today, Manning finally made his decision and he will be in Denver for the 2012 season and future seasons ahead. Denver does play New England this season in Foxboro, so the Manning-Brady rivalry will be resumed in full force, which is great for the NFL. However, there is one pawn in this giant game of chess that New England maybe should consider adding to the value free agents they have picked up so far this season.

That pawn is one of the more controversial pieces on the chess board (quarterback Tim Tebow). Whether you are a football fan or not, everybody has a take on the quarterback that won eight games, including a playoff win over the Steelers in 2011. With Manning now in the fold in the Mile High City, the president of football operations, John Elway, will be happy to send Tim Tebow many miles away from the Denver vicinity. I bet he has his bags packed right now, but it is a question of where the luggage will be heading for 2012.

Lately, according to several reports such as ESPN’s John Clayton, New England has emerged as a possible landing spot for Tebow. As a admitted Tebow supporter, I would like to see him start somewhere with an organization that truly believes in him whether it is the Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, or a “mystery team”.

On the other hand, it would be cool to see Tebow in Foxboro for numerous reasons. For one, he has great familiarity with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels since McDaniels was the man who drafted Tim just a couple of seasons ago. Here, he can groom under a great quarterback in Tom Brady, who unlike Peyton, would actually let him take some snaps in practice. The reason he would do that is we all know the respect Brady and Belichick have for the former Heisman Trophy winner, including almost taking him in that draft three seasons ago.

Another reason would be the cheap price. This would be a good business decision for the Pats because worst case scenario, they would only have to give up a Day 3 pick and they could wait out the possible release from the Broncos to get Tebow on their terms. Teams would be interested in trading for New England’s other backup quarterback in Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett. Hoyer was given a second round tender by New England earlier this month, so if a team wants him, they have to give up at least a second round pick.

Think about this: If Matt Flynn was able to get $10 million in guaranteed money from the Seahawks, how much would a team be willing to pay for a proven guy in Brian Hoyer as well as a promising rookie with a laser arm in Mallett? This is another opportunity for the Patriots’ brain trust to gain more picks towards the front end of the draft.

I think Tebow would see a guy like his former UF teammate, tight end Aaron Hernandez and be willing to play certain positions like an H-back or even be the guy who comes in on a 3^rd/4^th and 1 and run for the crucial yard to extend a drive. At the same time, the practice time for Tebow to grow as a quarterback for a year or so or even the preseason reps he would get would be essential to his development in becoming an accurate quarterback.

Finally, I love the intangibles that Tebow brings to the table. When you have him in the locker room or on the sideline, you get that feeling that you are never out of a game. Last year, we saw the Patriots show that same resiliency in late game situations, even in the Super Bowl defeat. The guy simply wants to win games and does not care about the spotlight. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like the Patriot way to me.

Before you simply dismiss Tebow to New England, keep in mind the familiarity with the coaching staff, the intangibles, and the flexibility the Patriots have at the backup quarterback spot to make a trade and increase their pick amount for the upcoming draft. Like I said, I would like to see Tebow start in Miami, Jacksonville, Cleveland, or somewhere else, but if that is not an option, bring him to New England to help him learn the craft more and contribute to a winning team one way or another.

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It’s not often that a player goes on national radio and openly markets himself to one team.

Then again, Brandon Lloyd isn’t like every other player.

The nine-year veteran is the definition of a journeyman, having played for five teams since he entered the league as a fourth-round pick in 2003. After improving his numbers during his first three years as a 49er, Lloyd was an utter bust in Washington and nondescript in his lone season in Chicago.

When he signed with the Broncos, it looked like more of the same for the talented, but inconsistent deep threat. He lasted only two games in 2009 but thanks to Josh McDaniels, he burst onto the scene in 2010, leading the league with 1,448 receiving yards.

After being traded to the Rams, Lloyd was re-united with McDaniels and finished the 2011 season with 51 receptions for 683 yards in 10 starts.

Unfortunately for Lloyd, his strong play in 2010 and 2011 didn’t result in a huge market for his services. Questions lingered about his commitment, inconsistent career and age. He also happened to enter unrestricted free agency in a year that saw Vincent Jackson, Robert Meachem, Reggie Wayne, Marques Colston, Dwayne Bowe and several other top receivers on the open market.

Luckily for Lloyd, the Patriots had a need at receiver.

And they have Josh McDaniels.

Although it took a few days, the Pats finally inked Lloyd to a three-year, $12 million deal on Saturday. The fit between team and player couldn’t be better, and the Pats seemed to have struck a team-friendly deal with a player who was second-team All Pro just two years ago.

Whiel Lloyd is often described as a deep threat, he’s not Calvin Johnson or Randy Moss. The 6-foot, 200-pounder has good speed, but his best assets are his hands and his ability to go up and get the football. Those strengths should fit well in New England where the Patriots often struggled to get anything going outside the numbers.

Because of his experience in McDaniels’ system, this shouldn’t be another Ochocinco debacle. Lloyd is a good route runner, knows the terminology and understands what it takes to be successful in a high-octane offense. He also benefits from being surrounded by fantastic receivers in Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.

My early prediction for Lloyd would be something around 70 catches for 1,000 yards and seven scores. If the team is able to draft another big, physical target with deep speed, this offense could be the best of the Brady-Belichick era.

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While it may not be the big splash Patriots fans were hoping for, Bill Belichick appears to have found a new starting safety in six-year veteran Steve Gregory. 

The former Charger brings starting experience, versatility and athleticism to a cripplingly-bad group of safeties from 2011. 

In 15 games, Gregory recorded 67 tackles and a pick. His best season came in 2009 when he posted 71 tackles, two sacks, two fumble recoveries, one interception and six passes defended. 

Reports have stated that Gregory should be a candidate to start at free safety next to Pat Chung. He also has the capability of playing slot corner and is regarded as a strong special teams player. 

According to reports, he signed a three-year, $8.5 million contract with $3.35 million guaranteed. 

In addition to Gregory, the Patriots re-signed one of their own, bringing back center/guard Dan Connolly. Terms of the deal have not been released, but his return would probably mean an end of an era for Dan Koppen. The longtime starting center missed most of last season with an ankle injury and is an unrestricted free agent. 

The Pats also re-signed Pro Bowl special teamer Matthew Slater and linebacker Tracy White earlier in the week, and added versatile defensive lineman Jonathan Fanene to bolster their depth. Fanene recorded 6.5 sacks last season for the Bengals and is regarded for his motor and versatility. 

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When Bart Scott said the Patriots defense “couldn’t stop a nosebleed” after the 2010 playoff defeat, he wasn’t joking.

Unfortunately, that trend carried over to 2011 where Belichick’s defense was only one spot from taking home the trophy for the worst pass defense in football.

Between injuries, ineffectiveness and a pure lack of talent, the Pats struggled mightily to cover or make plays on the ball, and those deficiencies directly contributed to the fourth-quarter collapse in the Super Bowl.

Sure, Belichick is regarded as a terrific defensive coach. He’s made guys like Mike Vrabel household names while developing talent like Asante Samuel into Pro Bowlers. He’s hit on first-round picks in Richard Seymour, Ty Warren, Vince Wilfork and Jerod Mayo.

But it’s time to stop living in the past.

Simply put – this team lacked sufficient talent in the secondary to compete.

Pat Chung is a solid player, but hasn’t become the next Rodney Harrison.

The other safety spot was laughable with James Ihedigbo, Josh Barrett and Sergio Brown proving they’re nothing more than special teamers.

Devin McCourty looked like the next Ty Law as a rookie, but played like Darius Butler as a sophomore.

Kyle Arrington surprisingly led the team with seven picks, but he’s far from a shutdown corner.

Ras-I Dowling, the top pick of the second round who entered the league with durability concerns, lasted two games before going on IR with a hip injury.

Now it wasn’t all bad for the Pats. They did find a feisty playmaker in Sterling Moore who could be a nice sub-package player. If Dowling returns to health, and McCourty plays even to 75 percent of his rookie form, New England will be in better shape.

There’s no doubt the team needs to attack both the free agent market and draft to upgrade the secondary. With big-name guys like Cortland Finnegan and Brandon Carr off the market, let’s take a look at some free agent fits for the Pats.

 

1. Tracy Porter, CB: After picking off Peyton Manning in ’09, many pegged Porter as the next shutdown corner. His inconsistency and inability to stay healthy has prevented the Super Bowl hero from achieving that status. After entering the league as a high second-round pick (40^th overall), Porter earned a starting spot in the Saints’ Super Bowl season. However, he’s missed 10 games over the past three seasons and only has two picks over his last 26. He has great speed (4.37), but only adequate size (5-foot-11, 188 pounds). The Patriots could offer him a one-year, incentive-laden deal if he’s looking to re-establish his value.

2. Lardarius Webb, CB: Anyone who watched the AFC Championship game knows this guy can play. Blessed with incredible athleticism, Webb has entered the conversation as the next shutdown corner. The biggest obstacle with bringing him to New England is that he’s not an unrestricted free agent. The Ravens tendered Webb at the first-round level meaning New England would have to sign him to an offer sheet and surrender one of their first-round picks to get him. Considering his experience and ascending play, it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to bank on a sure thing in Webb rather than a rookie.

3. LaRon Landry, S: Type in “LaRon Landry bicep” in Google Images and you’ll quickly realize whatever workout you’ve been doing isn’t enough. This guy is jacked! However, his big biceps don’t match his play. Landry has been incredibly injury prone during his career and has only played in 17 games the past two seasons due to an Achilles injury. He entered the league as a rare top-10 pick at safety and was expected to form a lethal duo next to Sean Taylor. Unfortunately Taylor was murdered and Landry has never become the consistent, imposing force the Redskins thought he could be. The former LSU star probably won’t get a lot of guaranteed money because of his durability concerns, and his playing style is eerily similar to Pat Chung, but he’d instantly be the most physically gifted of any defensive back on the team.

4. Steve Gregory, S: Reports have stated Gregory already has a visit lined up with the Patriots. The former Charger is solid, but not flashy in any area. He’s not much of a playmaker with only four picks and two forced fumbles in 85 games, but he does bring starting experience at an affordable price. Gregory isn’t a difference maker, but he could be a solid player who can contribute on special teams.

5. Mike Adams, S: The former Brown is another solid player who the Patriots have expressed interest in before. He has decent size at 5-foot-11, 200 pounds and has plenty of experience (114 career games). Adams has made more impact plays than Gregory, registering four sacks, two forced fumbles, six recoveries and 12 picks and 36 passes defended in his eight-year career. He could probably compete for a starting spot while teaching a rookie or possibly McCourty the nuances of the position.

Follow Stephen on Twitter @SSheehan925 for the latest Patriots news, draft talk and analysis. 

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For those clinging to memories of the Tom Brady-Randy Moss connection, put those dreams to rest. 

The man who caught 23 touchdowns in 2007 and made two Pro Bowls during a three-year run (2010 was a joke), is back in the league after retiring last season.  

Moss made headlines this offseason when he announced via Ustream that he was ready to play again after settling some personal issues. 

Speculators immediately discussed the Patriots as a potential target. With a huge need at wide receiver and the potential that Moss was looking to re-establish his value a la 2007, the fit seemed natural. 

Not so fast, Pats fans. 

After putting together a sizzling workout with the Saints, Moss' list of suitors grew. Reports surfaced that the Saints were contemplating an offer while other receiver-needy teams like the Jets, Eagles and Bears could pursue the future Hall of Famer. 

Meanwhile, the Patriots didn't express any public interest, but it's hard to imagine Moss' name wasn't discussed by Belichick and his staff. After all, Josh McDaniels was the man who helped Moss become Moss again, and he certainly isn't afraid to go to bat for his guys. 

As badly as we wanted to see him streaking down the right sideline for another Brady bomb, I don't think Moss was ever a realistic option for the Pats. 

Yes, he was fantastic for his first three seasons. He broke the single-season touchdown record, took the top off defenses and appeared to be a good citizen...for a while. By the end of '09 and the beginning of the 2010 season, the fact remained that Moss simply wasn't the same as he was in '07. He wasn't consistently gaining separation, and he wasn't even a big part of the gameplan. 

He shot himself in the foot with his post-game press conference where he bashed the Patriots for not addressing his contract situation and sealed his fate with his pure lack of effort against Miami. 

After he was dumped for a third-round pick, he disappeared with two teams. On the other hand, the Patriots regained the locker room and brought in a bunch of talented, young players. Belichick is smart enough to know that bringing back a guy like Moss has the potential to upset the precious team chemistry. 

In San Francisco, Jim Harbaugh has a strong locker room with guys like Justin Smith, Patrick Willis, Frank Gore and Vernon Davis. What the 49ers don't have is a downfield threat. Michael Crabtree was supposed to be their No. 1 receiver and a steal with the 10th pick in 2009, however he's been underwhelming at best. 

Even though he ran a reported 4.39 forty at the Saints workout, there are still questions about whether Moss is capable of generating that type of speed and separation in an actual game. The last time we saw him, he couldn't. Then again, with a strong running game, Moss doesn't have to be utilized as much as he was in New England. 

I won't lie and say I wasn't excited about the possibility of Randy donning number 81 in Foxboro again. But folks, it's not happening. 

So instead of witnessing Brady and Moss break records again, enjoy watching Alex Smith underthrowing the greatest deep threat of all time. 

 

For the latest Patriots news, draft talk and analysis, please follow me on Twitter: @SSheehan925

For the latest draft talk, analysis and Patriots news, please follow me on Twitter: @SSheehan925

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

New regime, new quarterback. While I tend to think Luck is a little overrated, he’s a can’t-miss prospect with no discernable weaknesses.

2. Washington Redskins (trade with St. Louis): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

They traded three first-round picks and a second rounder to move up four spots. Shanahan gets his man.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The Vikings took Christian Ponder, an injury-prone quarterback, in round one last year. Kalil can step in from day one and keep him upright and will be a future All-Pro.

4. Cleveland Browns: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Pair him with Joe Haden and you have the makings of a shutdown pass defense.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Josh Freeman needs a running game behind him. Richardson is the best tailback available and no corner is worth a top-10 pick with Claiborne gone.

6. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

They got a major haul for the No. 2 pick and still get their top target with the sixth pick.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Blaine Gabbert isn’t very good, but then again did you see who he was throwing to? Floyd ran better than expected, had a productive career and has the size necessary to be a No. 1 receiver at the next level.

8. Miami Dolphins: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

I don’t get why Miami is shifting to a 4-3 when the defense was the team’s strength. But adding a big, athletic defensive end like Coples to play opposite Cameron Wake would be a huge get. He’s a top-five talent with a questionable motor.

9. Carolina Panthers: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Maybe we’ve all fallen victim of the moment, but there just aren’t many 350-pound human beings who can move like Poe. The Panthers have the league’s worst set of defensive tackles, so Poe would be a major upgrade and would free up the Panthers strong set of linebackers.

10. Buffalo Bills: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

With a dominant combine performance, Ingram moves ahead of Courtney Upshaw as the first hybrid player off the board. Buffalo has a great set of defensive tackles, but needs someone to threaten the corner.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Scott Pioli is a New England guy and perhaps no team other than the Eagles likes drafting linemen early. Reiff comes from an established program and can play either tackle position.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

The Seahawks strike out on Flynn and Manning, but have the chance to take the draft’s third-best quarterback. Tannehill has tremendous upside and athleticism.

13. Arizona Cardinals: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

The Cardinals offensive is abysmal. DeCastro is one of the best guard prospects of the past decade and would be an immediate starter and future Pro Bowler.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Dallas needs to shore up its secondary. I think they’ll address cornerback in free agency, but there isn’t a safety of Barron’s caliber on the open market.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Everyone has the Eagles taking Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly, but look at Andy Reid’s draft history and Cox immediately becomes the front runner. His impressive combine and upside make him a fit in the Eagles’ aggressive front-four.

16. New York Jets: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

Kuechly has a chance to form a dangerous duo next to David Harris. The Jets can address their pass rush need in round two.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Marvin Lewis loves defense, and Kirkpatrick would shore up the other side of the field as long as Leon Hall returns from injury.

18. San Diego Chargers: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

Larry English failed to be the pass rusher the Chargers envisioned when they took him at 16 in 2009. Upshaw is the most complete edge player because of his toughness and versatility.

19. Chicago Bears: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

Jay Cutler had his best years playing with Brandon Marshall. Hill isn’t as physical as Marshall, but has much better long speed and separation skills.

20. Tennessee Titans: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

Mercilus is a bit of an enigma. He’s got a good frame, tested well and had a great 2011 season. However, he’s a one-year wonder who is a bit of tweener at this point. Tennessee needs to upgrade its pass rush.

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The whole world is wondering where Peyton Manning will land, and for many of those folks, it’s more than an innocent rooting interest. We’ve got money on it. (Personally, I’m hoping he lands in the Canadian League at +1500 … come on, Argonauts, show him the money!)

Vegas offers some clues on his eventual destinations. Ricky did a great job of breaking down the contenders. I’m just going to offer a few thoughts on some of these teams based on the odds:

Miami (even)

As a guy in his 30s with a lot of nagging sports injuries, I can definitely understand the appeal here. Warm weather, great scenery, strong media market, a great WR, electric threat out of the backfield, great scenery, decent offensive line, close to home, and great scenery. I don’t like it much for even money, but if you could get +250 with a drunk in a bar somewhere, I’ll be right next to Peyton sipping a margarita watching barely-clothed women walking down every street with Will Smith’s non-threatening hip hop playing in the background.

Cardinals (+450)

Hate it. Peyton won’t want to go to the NFC, where he could possibly be the third-best QB in the conference behind Brees and Rodgers. Ditto for the Seahawks at +1000. Both teams could afford him, but that doesn’t mean he want to play in either of those media markets.

Jets (+800)

I wouldn’t take this bet at +8,000,000. Seriously, he’s going to go to a cold-weather team with precious little cap space and an entire locker room at each other’s throats and a loudmouth head coach with a foot fetish that somehow has to try to beat Brady twice a year just to win the division? My bet on the Canadian League at +1500 isn’t looking bad compared to this.

Broncos (+1000)

One of my two favorite bets on the board. It’s a cake division and offers a very real opportunity for a first round bye. The Broncos have made their desire for Manning public, which creates an extremely big PR problem with the pro-Tebow crowd if they don’t land him. So suffice it to say, the ownership will be motivated to sign him. And they have roughly eleventy billion dollars in cap space. Seriously, are they paying their players in goats and chickens or something? Denver could pay him what he’s actually worth, which is more than most teams can say.

Texans (+1000)

I love these odds. Easily the best bet on the board. He gets to play half of his games in a dome, he gets one of the league’s elite receivers and running backs, a top-notch defense and a warm-weather climate. Don’t sleep on the fact that it’s close to his home state of Louisiana either. The Texans instantly become the favorites in the AFC if they land Manning, and they’d be able to dangle Schaub as trade bait and likely get at least a second round pick. There really is no reason why he wouldn’t land here (other than the scenery in Miami). no comments

The big news around the Patriots might not necessarily have to do with New England itself as we head into free agency next week. The big storyline around the entire NFL is the free agent status of Peyton Manning. The long-time Indianapolis Colt is now free to go wherever he pleases and he might be back to his old self next year. The question will be whether or not it is in the NFC or if Manning is torturing the Patriots again once or maybe even twice a year. For this article, we are going to ignore the NFC contenders for Manning such as Arizona, Seattle, San Francisco, and Washington. This piece will focus on the AFC contenders for Manning and how each one could affect the Patriots.

1. MIAMI DOLPHINS: This seems to be the clear frontrunner on where Manning will land by next week. He has a condominium in Miami and works out in the offseason there with his wide receiver buddy Reggie Wayne. The Dolphins are still searching for Dan Marino’s replacement fifteen years later. Yes, Matt Moore filled in nicely after an awful 0-6 start to 2011, but he is not the short-term answer. Manning is a perfect fit for the Dolphins. You put him with Reggie Wayne, Brandon Marshall, and Reggie Bush and that is an explosive, dynamic offense. Last year, the Dolphins blew a 17-0 lead to the Patriots on Christmas Eve. Let’s just say, if Manning is there, New England probably won’t be making seventeen point comebacks.

This would do two things for the Patriots. For one, this would put more emphasis on drafting a defensive player, primarily a cornerback with one of their two first round picks. Also, the AFC East would become a lot tougher to win with two installments of Brady vs. Manning (Which, by the way, the NFL would love). The Patriots-Dolphins rivalry is in need of some sizzle again, and this might be the juice that gets it going.

2. NEW YORK JETS: This is the most likely pipe dream out of the scenario we are putting out there. The Jets are in dire need of some form of leadership. They have a quarterback who most fans are sick of and has been treated with kid gloves throughout his career.  Clearly, ground and pound is not the focus of the league anymore and it has been proven you need a good quarterback to get to the promised land. You can make the case that Manning to the Jets is the most logical case if Peyton is looking to win a Super Bowl right now, even if it is in the tough AFC East.

The reasons I say it is a pipe dream is because why would Peyton come to the Jets? He is not going to play in the same city as his brother because he wants to avoid all the comparisons between himself and Eli. Plus, the weather is cold outdoors in December usually. Manning is known for struggling in cold weather games as Patriots’ fans know from past Pats-Colts playoff games. Finally, the leadership is not stable and as long as Rex continues to open his mouth and say stupid, trash-talking comments, that dynamic is not going to change. Right now, just the talk of the Jets’ interest in Peyton helps New England because it makes the dynamic between the organization and Sanchez much more difficult.

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