NFL Free Agency BANZIA

First off let me tell you, I Sports d00de have moved from my hometown of Saint Joseph, Michigan to Grand Rapids, Michigan (technically Wyoming, Michigan). Anyways throughout the move some major things happened in the NFL structure of teams. After I moved the dust settled and I went on a well needed vacation. I stopped by my parents house, after said vacation, and my mother mentioned to me about some players she knows from fantasy and "Why they aren't on their teams anymore?". Don't worry mom, I got you covered, and for all the d00de and d00dettes out there, here is your NFL free agency coverage.

For the sake of a shorter read I will be posting two divisions (either East, West, North, or South) from each conference (AFC or NFC). I will Start with the east for both Conferences.

NFC East

Alright lets knock out the big one first....

The Eagles

The Eagles were the big movers and collectors. They resigned their quarterback and live action Madden player, Michael Vick, they moved their backup "future" quarterback Kevin Kolb to the Arizona Cardinals, they got a new backup by signing Vince Young (former Tennessee Titans), they got a better pass Defense by taking the best free agent out there in Nnamdi Asomugha (former Oakland Raider), and got a veteran running back in Ronnie Brown from the Miami Dolphins (who is versatile in running the wildcat offense).
This team has proclaimed themselves the "dream team" (by Vince Young), and Vick has said that this feels like the best team he has been on. With a head coach like Andy Reid I bet they will make some noise in the NFC. So far this preseason they are 1-1 though, they just came off a defeat from the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the first team offense didn't look that sharp. Though Vick claimed to be forcing things, hopefully the pressure to be great doesn't come upon this "dream team".

The Cowboys

America's team.....(cricket, cricket, cricket....) not so much last year. With Tony Romo getting injured early, and their former "Head Coach" Wade Phillips looking like what he is now, a coordinator, they didn't have many bright spots. That is until their new head coach (Jason Garret) stepped in and their young talent stepped up (Players like Dez Bryant and Felix Jones). With that in mind, they didn't sign anyone (big that is) and they had the mentality of "out with the old and in with the new". With that said, they released the following (Released OT Marc Colombo, G Leonard Davis, WR Roy Williams, RB Marion Barber, PK Kris Brown, OT Robert Brewster, G Travis Bright, LB Kelvin Smith and WR Troy Bergeron.)
:O
Ummm that might be a bit to much Jerry! (Jerry Jones owner of the Cowboys). They I am assuming released big contracts to free up room to keep around main pieces like Jones and Bryant. The big names from that list are Colombo, Marion Barber, and Roy Williams (each who have new homes in the NFL later to be covered.) Maybe, just maybe the Boys got something on their minds.

The NY Giants

The Giants kind of didn't make much sense this short post lockout "off season". They released a bunch of linemen, got rid of Eli Manning's safety blanket Steve Smith (who is now with guess who, the Eagles). I guess they kind of have the Cowboys idea of bringing in a new era, and allowing Hakeem Knicks to grow and their first round draft pick Prince Amukamara (Ah moo kah mur rah, lol).
I guess their big free agency transaction would be Wide Receiver Michael Clayton. Nothing big.

The Redskins

So, last year they tried the Donovan McNabb experiment, and it didn't go so well. The Skins sent him to the Minnesota Vikings (to be covered in future article). They haven't exactly found a replacement, but they have a dual between Rex Grossman....and John Beck.....Ya, you be the judge.
Their big transaction of players that you might know, is that they signed the running back from the Cardinals, Tim Hightower, since they got rid of Clinton Portis. Not to much for them either.



The AFC East

The Bills

The Bills are caught in NFL purgatory, they never have a good record, or big name players. They moved their NFL caliber wide receiver Lee Evans, who ended up in Baltimore (The Ravens). They did get a draft pick though for Evans, and on the bright side, the Bills do have some young talent (i.e. running back C.J. Spiller).
Their big pick ups were ferocious Line Backer (former Packer) Nick Barnett, fancy looking back-up QB from the Dolphins Tyler Thigpen. They also picked up a former teammate of Shawne Merriman (picked up from the Chargers last year to the Bills), Craig "Buster" Davis, a wide receiver from the San Diego Chargers, probably to cover for the loss of Evans.

The Dolphins

So, Ronnie Brown left, and they didn't make a move on Broncos QB Kyle Orton. BUT, they did pick up Reggie Bush from the Saints. I know what you're thinking, "So what?" Well Reggie Bush will get a lot of outside short passes which is what he likes which in turn should make the Miami offense a bit more spread out, and defenses will have to choose to cover either a former NFL powerhouse at wide receiver, Brandon Marshall, or up incoming Devon Bess. People are booing QB Chad Henne but he might have a good year this year. They also gave previously mentioned Offensive Tackle Marc Colombo a home.

The Jets

J-E-T-S! JETS! JETS! JETS! Last years version of the Eagles, they signed a bunch of guys last year.....they competed in the "Nnamdi Asomugha sweepstakes", they tried to keep their former wide receiver Braylon Edwards, and then a light came on. They got former Giant player Plaxico Burress fresh from prison, and they are hoping for a "Michael Vick at WR" redemption story.
They also signed wide receiver Derrick Mason from the Ravens. But, they lost most of their pass rush (Kris Jenkins announcing his reitrement, and Shaun Ellis becoming a Patriot), but head coach Rex Ryan says he is looking for young guys to step up.

and with that, we come to....
The Patriots

....Ochocinco.....Haynesworth.....Ellis.....meh
They are a super-powered team, yadda yadda yadda, Tom Brady this, Tom Brady that, *cough* cheaters *cough* (not anymore, cause they aren't making AFC Championships anymore). Anyways they got Ochocinco who might actually make them semi-fun to watch, he is already showing he can be top tier by catching a touchdown in their last preseason game against Tampa Bay. BUT they will not be the team to beat, if you ask me there are better teams in the AFC, but ESPN has to have their hype being they are in the New England area.


So there you have it the east is knocked out. Prolly get working on the north next article expect it in the middle of the week or next weekend.

d00de of the Month: August Cliff Lee

A three way tie between nominees of Cliff, Aramis, and Novak. Here's how the tie break went, there hasn't been much tennis since the British open, Aramis had to hit a homer to win the night voting ended, and Cliff Lee just had to get back to pitching like Cliff Lee.
So of course, Cliff Lee pitched like Cliff Lee. So he is d00de of the Month.

I consider Cliff as a number one pitcher in the league. Roy Hallday (also of the Philadelphia Phillies) is considered to be the most consistent, but he just has a different style than Cliff. Cliff Lee's style is that of a charging bull. His pitches are aggressive and (what appear to the batter as) fast, his quick pace keeps batters on their toes.

To really understand the pitcher, Cliff Lee, you have to know his pitches. He has an arsenal of pitches including, a four-seam fastball, a two-seam fastball, a cut fastball, a slider, a circle changeup, and a knuckle changeup. Basically if you are going to swing thinking you know what is going to be pitched next, you will swing and miss.

It all really comes down to his month of June, Cliff was unstoppable. He pitched three consecutive shut outs over his span of starts, one involving an outing against the potent offense of the Boston Red Sox. Even though he stepped into humanity for the month of July, he also did something that helped him earn the coveted title of "d00de of the Month" and that was hit his first career home run off of Tommy Hanson of the Atlanta Braves. (Here is the proof)



Once he finished July with a win against Pittsburgh by striking out eleven batters, Cliff might be back on a run of godly pitching Thursday night he threw another shut out against the reigning world champs, the San Francisco Giants. Beware other teams in the majors, Cliff Lee is getting warmed up.