AFC East: The Pre-Preseason 2008 NFL Preview
by Bodog Sportsbook | Jul 29 2008
AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills
BEST MOVE: Trading for Marcus Stroud. He will help the Bills fortify that defensive line in a big way. At 6 feet 6 inches and 306 pounds, Stroud does everything in a big way.
WORST MOVE: Jason Peters contract situation. The reality of the current CBA is that teams can dump players whenever they want. So when a player outperforms his contract, teams can hold out and try to force a new contract. When it’s a young player who is quickly becoming one of the best at his position in the entire league… pay him.
2008 CRYSTAL BALL: Bills fans get excited and think that this year they’ll be able to make the playoffs, but the reality is that unless Trent Edwards makes a spectacular leap forward, the Bills will be watching the postseason again from home.
MOST LIKELY TO BE PRAISED LIKE HE SAVED A CHILD FROM A BURNING BUILDING: Paul Posluszny. After Posluszny missed almost his entire rookie season last year, the Bills will be looking for big things from this young linebacker. He’ll deliver.
MOST LIKELY TO BE BEATEN LIKE HE OWES MONEY ON MONDAY MORNINGS: Trent Edwards. Everyone harshly scrutinizes all young quarterbacks that struggle, and if Edwards falters early, fans will be calling for J.P. Losman. At least until he throws his first INT.
Miami Dolphins
BEST MOVE: Hiring Bill Parcells. Yes, it was technically last season when he was hired, but his impact was felt throughout the organization as soon as the season ended. The Dolphins have already improved after their dreadful 1-15 effort last year.
WORST MOVE: Trading Lorenzo Booker. Booker was starting to shine in the opportunities he got late last season. He seemed to be in the Dave Meggett mold that Parcells enjoyed success with in the past, but he was sent to the Eagles for a third-round pick. They then had to use later draft picks on two running backs in Jalen Parmele and Lex Hilliard.
2008 CRYSTAL BALL: Improving this team is at least a three-year effort and they’re on their way. The Dolphins will have a better year than they did last season. But not by much.
MOST LIKELY TO BE PRAISED LIKE HE SAVED A CHILD FROM A BURNING BUILDING: Ricky Williams. Reports out of camp have been that Williams is back and looks good. He could be the hero early on, especially as they try to ease Ronnie Brown back into the lineup after his knee injury.
MOST LIKELY TO BE BEATEN LIKE HE OWES MONEY ON MONDAY MORNINGS: Ted Ginn, Jr. He doesn’t have it easy. Not only does he need to produce return TDs and show improvement with regards to his route running, but the quarterbacks have to play well or every Dolphins fan will bring up that Brady Quinn was on the board when Cam Cameron drafted the lightning fast Ted Ginn, Jr., and the whole Ginn family.
New England Patriots
BEST MOVE: Drafting Jerod Mayo. They needed two things this year and one of them was youth to infuse into an over-the-hill linebacking corps.
WORST MOVE: The other thing they needed was cornerbacks. Whoops. Surely Fernando Bryant and Jason Webster can get the job done. Surely.
2008 CRYSTAL BALL: It’s the Patriots. They’ll go deep into the playoffs, but the 1972 Dolphins should rest easier this season.
MOST LIKELY TO BE PRAISED LIKE HE SAVED A CHILD FROM A BURNING BUILDING: Tom Brady. He’s still a winner and fans love him. He’s reached that place where even when he plays poorly, he admits it and fans just accept it. “Yeah. Tommy’s right. He’s way harder on himself than we could be anyway. That’s what it takes to be a champion.” Then Brady goes home and sees supermodel Giselle Bundchen naked. Sickening. He’s that good.
MOST LIKELY TO BE BEATEN LIKE HE OWES MONEY ON MONDAY MORNINGS: Jason Webster. He’s going to have some problems as people throw the ball towards him all year long.
New York Jets
BEST MOVE: Signing free agent and Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca. Putting Faneca in between high draft choices D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold is going to help that line develop into something special.
WORST MOVE: Signing free agent Calvin Pace. Miami offered him a deal, and in order to outbid a division rival, the Jets overpaid for a player with only one year of solid production, and then drafted Vernon Gholston at that position a month later.
2008 CRYSTAL BALL: Everyone associated with the Jets these days is on the hot seat. The fact that they were even discussing the possibility of having Brett Favre come and play for them shows how desperate this team is to win ball games. Until they sort out their quarterback situation, this team won’t be playing in the postseason.
MOST LIKELY TO BE PRAISED LIKE HE SAVED A CHILD FROM A BURNING BUILDING: Vernon Gholston. His first sack will endear him to New York and be overplayed on all the highlight reels.
MOST LIKELY TO BE BEATEN LIKE HE OWES MONEY ON MONDAY MORNINGS: Chad Pennington. Nothing Chad does will get the Jets fans back on his side. These two should be heading for a divorce after another rocky season.
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More AFC Pre-Preseason Previews: NFC Pre-Preseason Previews:
Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots
