NFL Season Preview: NFC Predictions

Can Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly help his team retain the NFC South crown?

With the NFL season due to kick off in Seattle next Thursday when the Packers come into town to take on the defending Superbowl champion Seahawks, it's time to look at who'll be competing in the play-offs come January and who'll be on the golf course. American Football Focus will start proceedings by looking at the NFC - can anyone dethrone the "12th Man" of Seattle?

NFC East

Philadelphia Eagles
The defending NFC East champs should return to the top of the pile in 2014, despite releasing speedy receiver DeSean Jackson. Nick Foles established himself in 2013 as one of the top Quarterbacks in the league, and with the Eagles players more comfortable in head coach Chip Kelly's system than they were a year ago it figures that Philly should improve on the 10-6 record that saw them win their division.

Washington Redskins
Speaking of Jackson, the diminutive wideout was signed by the Redskins new coach Jay Gruden in a bid to give Robert Griffin III a legitimate deep threat in the passing game. The Washington offense should improve under the guidance of Gruden, who'll also have running back Alfred Morris at his disposal. The defense, however, was porous in 2013 and it figures to be similarly disappointing this time round with the secondary looking particularly weak.

Dallas Cowboys
2013 was a poor year for the 'boys, and with Quarterback Tony Romo's back playing up again this off-season it could be another long season in Big D. The offense could still be effective with Dez Bryant beginning to fulfill his potential, however much like Washington the defense leaves much to be desired and with Jason Garrett still in charge nothing figures to change as they look likely to battle New York for the NFC East wooden spoon.


New York Giants
Eli Manning is still a bad Quarterback and unfortunately the talent around him isn't up to much either, which isn't good news for Giants fans. The wheels really fell off in the Meadowlands last season despite the best efforts of coach Tom Coughlin to keep the side competitive, and although cornerback Domonique Rodgers-Cromartie should improve the play in the defensive secondary the pass rush was non-existent in 2013. After two Superbowl titles in four years between 2008 and 2012 the Giants could be in for a fairly lengthy rebuilding period unless Manning unexpectedly bounces back.

NFC North

Green Bay Packers
Green Bay returns Aaron Rodgers, who alongside Peyton Manning and Tom Brady is one of the best players at his position in the NFL, and any time you can boast a top QB your chances of making the play-offs are pretty good. The discovery of running back Eddie Lacy gives Rodgers someone who he can hand the ball off to 20 times a game, while Jordy Nelson has developed into one of the better receivers in football. How far this team goes depends on the defense and Clay Matthews in particular - especially with division rivals Chicago emerging as an offensive powerhouse.

Chicago Bears (Wild Card)
Marc Trestman's troops nearly won the division in his first season in charge, but even though they failed to make the play-offs there were positive signs for the Bears going forward. Jay Cutler may not be universally liked but he's been a consistent QB for a while now and if he can stay healthy he'll have the dynamic duo of Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall to throw to. Matt Forte is still a more than capable back, and while the defense is a concern (much like in Green Bay) the offense is high octane and could lead to a wild card berth for the Bears.

Detroit Lions
Is this the year that Matthew Stafford finally puts it together? I'm not so sure, even if he does have Calvin Johnson at his disposal. The Lions also added tight end Eric Ebron in the draft and still have Reggie Bush at tailback, but a defense that  can't seem to put it all together is holding the Lions back. New coach Jim Caldwell has pedigree as the offensive co-ordinator on the Colts team that won Superbowl XLVII, but as head coach in Indy Caldwell saw things unravel when Peyton Manning went down with injury in 2011. Not all coaches get a second chance in the NFL; Caldwell has been given one and he's got a fantastic opportunity to make the most of it with plenty of offensive talent at his disposal in Detroit.

Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings play outdoors at the University of Minnesota this year as their new stadium is completed in time for them to move into it next season, and while the move won't affect star running back Adrian Peterson it could have dire consequences for Matt Cassel, who is set to start the season at QB. The Vikings are more-or-less in rebuilding mode and with the three teams above them all clearly more talented and possessing better Quarterbacks it doesn't look promising for Minny.

NFC West

Seattle Seahawks
Last years Superbowl champs return largely intact, with defensive standout Richard Sherman and star QB Russell Wilson both set to lead the team back to the post-season. The greatest threat to the Seahawks crown probably lies in the form of their division rivals San Francisco, who despite being a good team don't the same homefield advantage and title winning pedigree that the 'hawks posses. Seattle also has an uncanny ability to come up clutch in the big moments and coach Pete Carroll will know back-to-back championships is an achievable goal.

San Francisco 49ers (Wild Card)
The Niners were so close to making it to the big game last year, but Colin Kaepernick's untimely interception in Seattle ended their season in dramatic fashion for the second straight year. NaVarro Bowman's gruesome knee injury sustained in that game sets the defense back a fair bit as he's one of the premier defensive players in football, however the offense remains an effective unit and it would be a massive surprise if the 49ers failed to make it back to the playoffs in 2015.

Arizona Cardinals
The "Ugly Sister" of the top three teams in the NFC West, Arizona actually had as good a defense as San Fran a season ago but was let down by inconsistent play from Quarterback Carson Palmer. Palmer, however, has looked much improved this summer and with Larry Fizgerald in tow he could be primed for his best season in years. If Palmer does enjoy a renaissance then the play-offs are a possibility for the Cardinals, providing the defense (led by Patrick Peterson) can replicate its stellar play from 2013.

St. Louis Rams
With QB Sam Bradford already done for the year with a knee injury this season figures to lost for St. Louis, who despite a number of high draft picks in recent years have failed to be competitive in the NFL's best division. The defensive line is menacing with the likes of Chris Long and Robert Quinn rushing the passer, but offensively the cupboard is bare although mighty mite Tavon Austin could break out in his second professional season.

NFC South

New Orleans Saints
The Saints aren't the juggernaut they once were, but they still have Drew Brees under centre and maintain a huge homefield advantage at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The addition of safety Jarius Byrd in free agency from Buffalo should also go a long way to shoring up a previously suspect secondary, however the rest of the defense leaves a lot to be desired after it's record breakingly poor performances during the previous two campaigns. Keep an eye out for rookie wide receiver Brandin Cooks, an explosive playmaker in the mould of former Saint Darren Sproles who could tear it up on the Superdome turf.

Carolina Panthers
Cam Newton finally matured into a top-10 NFL Quarterback last season and with his dynamic blend of arm strength and immense physical stature it figures Newton will stay there for years to come. The loss of Panthers legend Steve Smith will hurt, however, and after finishing last in the NFL in plays over 20 yards in 2013 Carolina will need to generate more big plays if they're to retain their NFC South crown. The defense is one of the NFL's best, led by middle linebacker Luke Kuechly and defensive end Greg Hardy, making Ron Rivera's unit a tough nut to crack.

Atlanta Falcons
After last years 4-12 debacle head coach Mike Smith will be hopeful of a bounce-back season from Matt Ryan and co as Atlanta attempts to regain its status as one of the NFC's premier teams. Injuries decimated this team in 2013 and if the likes of Julio Jones and Roddy White can return to the field and be as effective as they were before the Falcons will be capable of putting up points in bunches, something they were unable to do a year ago. The offensive line is porous, however, and the defense isn't much better so it'll be difficult for Smith's men to overtake the Saints and Panthers in what is shaping up to be a very strong division.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Former Bears coach Lovie Smith was recruited in Tampa Bay to turn things around after the mess left by former head honcho Greg Schiano. Schiano oversaw an undisciplined and ultimately unsuccessful regime, highlighted by the dire attitude and performance from former first round pick Josh Freeman, who was released half-way through last season. Josh McCown is a solid replacement at QB and Doug Martin has the potential to be a top running back in the league so there is hope for Tampa; it'll take a couple of seasons before they're competitive in the NFC South again, however.

Rookie of the Year - Brandin Cooks, New Orleans Saints

MVP - LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles

Who do you think will make the play-offs from the NFC this season? Will Seattle be able to defend their Superbowl title? Leave a comment or tweet @fredjstanley to have your say
 
 

6 Stories from Training Camp

Baltimore RB Ray Rice has been suspended for the first two games of the NFL season

With the NFL season just a few weeks away and teams across the United States well into their training camp programmes, here's six stories from across the league as teams gear up for the upcoming 16 game slog:

Eagles Lane Johnson Tests Positive for PEDs

Last years third overall pick, tackle Lane Johnson, is to miss the first four games of the NFL season after he tested positive for a banned substance during the off-season. The news is a blow to Philadelphia and head coach Chip Kelly, who were relying on Johnson to anchor the right side of the Eagles offensive line as they bid to retain the NFC East title in 2014. Johnson struggled at times last year but he still projects as a player who can retain a starting spot for a decade or more - though he'll have to watch from the sidelines as the Eagles latest campaign gets underway.

Geno Smith to Start Jets First Pre-Season Game

After signing former Eagles and Falcons QB Michael Vick in the summer Jets head coach Rex Ryan has named incumbent Geno Smith as the starter for New York's first game of the pre-season. Smith had his struggles as a rookie in 2013 and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him supplanted by Vick at some point this year, particularly with Ryan's job seemingly on the line. However Smith will have first crack on the role, and Vick will have to wait for the second team to take the field to make his mark.

Johnny Football Not the Browns Starter.. Yet

Like Vick, Browns QB Johnny Manziel will also be consigned to playing with the second string in the first round of pre-season contests. Brian Hoyer will start for Cleveland under first year coach Mike Pettine, who has declared the competition under centre wide open. Normally the pre-season is a time for tuning up and avoiding injury - not so for these two pairs of quarterbacks, whose immediate and long term futures are on the line.

DeSean Jackson Picks Up Ankle Injury

Newly acquired Redskins receiver DeSean Jackson is set to miss the first pre-season game with his new team after he picked up a slight ankle knock during training camp. The injury appears to be minor on the surface, but Washington will be keen to get Jackson back as soon as possible as he figures to be a key part of the offense as Robert Griffin III and the Redskins aim to bounce back under new coach Jay Gruden. Jackson's ability to stretch the field is well documented - as is his tendency to cause trouble off the field and in the locker room, hence his sudden release by the Eagles.

Ray Rice Banned Two Games for Domestic Abuse Incident

After being involved in an ugly domestic violence incident, Ravens running back Ray Rice received what many perceived to be a lenient suspension from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. While players such as Lane Johnson (four games) and Josh Gordon (eight) were punished heavily for drug related misdemeanours Rice was handed just a two game ban for what is, in most peoples eyes, a more serious issue. Rice struggled mightily in 2013 and had what was probably the worst season of a decorated career, including a Superbowl title in 2012. If the former Rutgers man is to bounce back he'll need to do so in just 14 games, as opposed to the usual 16.

Josh Gordon Reportedly Facing Eight Game Suspension

As Browns fans celebrated a successful first round of the NFL draft back in May, topped by the selection of Manziel with their second pick in the process, news broke that receiver Gordon had tested positive for marijuana for the second time in the past couple of years. Originally it was feared he might miss the entire season - as it's transpired it's likely his suspension will be half of that. The knock-on effect of Gordon's ban could be significant: without a top target to throw to coach Mike Pettine is less likely to throw Manziel into a hazardous situation, with Miles Austin the next best option in a depleted Cleveland receiving corps and the offensive line far from reliable with the exception of left tackle Joe Thomas.

Stay tuned for the 'American Football Focus Podcast' and predictions for the upcoming NFL season. Tweet your views to @fredjstanley

Best Three, Worst Three Picks from NFL Draft's First Round

Teddy Bridgewater was selected with the 32nd and final pick of the first round by the Minnesota Vikings

Last night's NFL Draft first round was as exciting as there's been for many years, with the evening full of surprise picks, players falling and trades galore. It may be early days, of course, with none of the 32 players taken having set foot on an NFL field, however it's never too early to analyse the moves made and dish out some instant judgements on the players selected. Scroll down for the three best and worst picks made in Radio City Music Hall late last evening.

Three Best Picks

Teddy Bridgewater (QB), Louisville - 32nd Overall - Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings made the shrewd move to trade back into the first round and select Quarterback Bridgewater after he'd looked likely to slide out of the first round altogether. At the beginning of the draft process the Louisville product had been tipped to go first overall, but a poor pro day and concerns about his physical makeup saw him fall behind other passers Johnny Manziel and Blake Bortles. The price Minnesota paid to move up, just a fourth round pick, was minimal and the selection makes perfect sense as the Vikings look to move on from Christian Ponder in the near future. Furthermore, had they not acted and traded up then Houston would have been perfectly positioned to nab Bridgewater with the first pick in the second round tonight.

Brandin Cooks (WR), Oregon State - 20th Overall - New Orleans Saints

After the Saints traded away Darren Sproles this off-season they needed to add an explosive play-maker on the offensive side, and they got the perfect guy in Cooks. The former Oregon State receiver had an impressive combine showing and he is undoubtedly the shiftiest wideout in the draft process this year. Cooks also offers a threat in the return game and closely resembles DeSean Jackson, the former Eagles receiver who was released and signed by divisional rivals Washington last month. Saints QB Drew Brees will be thrilled to have a new toy to play with in the passing game, and Cooks should benefit from being thrown the ball by one of the top signal callers in the league.

Johnny Manziel (QB), Texas A & M - 22nd Overall - Cleveland Browns

"Johnny Football" suffered the indignity of falling into the second half of the draft's first round, but his slide was Cleveland's gain as the Browns gleefully traded up four spots and snagged their QB of the future, and quite possibly the present too. When the Browns passed on Manziel at number eight they must have thought their chance to land the Texas A & M star had gone but as more and more teams focused on the defensive side of the ball Manziel fell into their laps as they gave up a third round pick to swap slots with Philadelphia. However the price was more than worth paying as earlier on in the evening the Browns had acquired a first round pick next year from Buffalo, who moved up from nine to four to select wide receiver Sammy Watkins. So in effect Cleveland turned the fourth and 26th picks into: cornerback Justin Gilbert, quarterback Johnny Manziel, an additional fourth round pick this year and a first round pick in 2015. Not a bad night's work.

Three Worst Picks

Eric Ebron (TE), North Carolina - 10th Overall - Detroit Lions

Ebron is a good player, make no mistake about that. But tight end is a non-premium position in the NFL and to select one in the top ten when you have plenty of holes elsewhere on the roster is an unforgivable mistake. Brandon Pettigrew already mans the position for Detroit and he's no slouch, so it made little sense for the Lions to ignore the defensive side of the ball where they are in desperate need of help. Their offensive line could also do with some TLC, so Ebron has to go down as a luxury pick from the Detroit management who'd better hope the North Carolina product turns into the next Jimmy Graham or they could rue the selection in the coming months.

Jimmie Ward (S), Northern Illinois - 30th Overall - San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco were at more of a disadvantage than Detroit in that they were picking towards the end of round one. Nonetheless, they ignored a position of need (wide receiver) and decided to take a safety with their first pick when they did the same last year by selecting Eric Reid, who enjoyed a fine rookie campaign. With former USC wideout Marqise Lee still on the board it was surprising to see the 49ers forgo him, with the San Fran receiving corps having come up short in the NFC Championship game in Seattle. Ward has the potential to be a very good safety and he packs a punch in the middle of the field - I just don't think he was the best option on the board when San Francisco made their pick.

Taylor Lewan (OT), Michigan - 11th Overall - Tennessee Titans

Tennessee were unable to land one of the top two tackles in the draft, Greg Robinson and Jake Matthews, and as a result ended up selecting Lewan despite him being a tier below the other two names at his position and tackle not being an urgent need for the Titans. Having lost Kenny Britt in free agency a wide receiver would have been a better play, particularly with the likes of Odell Beckham still on the board. Lewan has the chance to be a very good tackle but the Titans appear to be placing an unjustified amount of faith in QB Jake Locker, while also failing to surround him with good enough weapons on the outside to ultimately be successful.

Who do you think were the best and worst selections made in the 2014 NFL Draft's first round? Have your say in the comments or by tweeting @fredjstanley. 




 

NFL Draft 2014: A UK Viewing Guide

Kansas City selected Eric Fisher first overall in the 2013 NFL Draft. Who will go number one this year?

With just over 24 hours until the 2014 NFL Draft gets underway, it's time to decide how you'll enjoy the event if you're living in the unfriendly UK television timezone. The draft will commence at around 1 a.m in Western Europe, so if you want to soak in the full viewing experience make sure you first read this handy guide.

Where to Watch

Sky Sports have been at the forefront of American Football coverage in the UK for over a decade now and thankfully for Sky subscribers they are airing the first day of the draft live and in its entirety. Make sure you tune in, at any time from 10 p.m onwards, to experience the build up and the draft itself as the Sky Sports experts analyse the 32 picks made in round one. If you aren't a Sky Sports customer then you'll struggle to get the full draft experience - however you can stream the draft live from NFL.com although you'll require an excellent internet connection due to the millions of people from around the globe who'll be trying to do the exact same thing.

Keeping Up to Date With the Picks

Watching the draft on television is great and everything, but if you're a real draft freak you'll want to keep abreast of who's already been selected and which teams are on the clock next. You can do so by once again heading to NFL.com and clicking on their live draft tracker, which details who was selected at each pick as well as offering useful information on draft day trades, draft prospects remaining in the process and highlights of the draftees in action. For a more opinionated take on the draft day events head to ProFootballTalk.com where they'll break down each selection and trade, offering their expert opinion in the process. Make sure you're active on twitter too - follow the likes of Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) for up to the minute news from New York as the draft unfolds.

It's Better With Friends

Sure, the draft is entertaining to watch on your own if you're an NFL fanatic and your team has a high selection. But once they've made their choice you'll want someone to rant at, be happy with or analyse the rest of the selections made by the other 31 franchises as the night progresses. With up to ten minutes between picks there can be some slow moments during the draft and if you want to avoid falling asleep in the wee hours of Friday morning try and persuade a fellow NFL fan, or even an NFL newbie, to watch the annual event with you in the comfort of your living room. If they need persuading then don't hesitate to rustle up some snacks or get some drinks in - like an actual NFL game the draft is littered with ad breaks so you'll have plenty of time to make the journey to and from the kitchen.

Do Your Homework

Last but not least: clue up! Before the draft gets underway have a look around the internet for as many draft related articles and mock drafts as you can find. The evening will be much more enjoyable and you'll feel far more knowledgeable if you do some research and find out who the 'can't miss' prospects and draft day sleepers are, plus you'll be less likely to utter "who?" when Jadaveon Clowney is taken in the first five picks. Highlight packages of all of the prospects are available on NFL.com and YouTube so if you're more visually inclined take a peek at the potential draftees in action, and give yourself an edge over your other NFL supporting pals.

Be sure to follow @fredjstanley for live tweets of the draft, and feel free to leave a comment here if you've got something to say about the event

American Football Focus Podcast - Off-season Special 14/04/14

Will Jadaveon Clowney be the first overall pick in this years NFL Draft?

The latest installment of the American Football Focus podcast is up, and you can listen to it here. I'm joined by Alex Mohammed and Scott Taylor to discuss the players who changed teams during free agency, as well as offering our predictions for the first ten picks of next months NFL Draft. You can have your say on any of the topics in the podcast by leaving a comment, or drop me a tweet @fredjstanley.

Cutting Desean Jackson Opens Chip Kelly Up To Criticism

Photo Courtesy of Philly.com

Over the past few weeks it became clear that the Philadelphia Eagles were moving on from Desean Jackson as trade rumours surrounding the wide receiver swirled. Yet it was still a surprise when the Eagles, who failed to find a willing trade partner, released the pro bowler last Friday despite Jackson coming off his best NFL season and seemingly in his prime at 27 years-old.

While Jackson's on field production has been consistently excellent throughout his NFL career it's rumoured to be his off field activities that prompted Philadelphia to cut ties with the diminutive speedster. A report on NJ.com speculated that Jackson has ties with several gang members, a report Jackson and police representatives have been quick to dismiss, while another rumour speculates that Eagles coach Chip Kelly is less than thrilled with Jackson's personality and its impact on other members of the roster.

Another potential reason for Jackson's release is his relatively high cap number for both the coming season and beyond. The Eagles owed Jackson $10.5 million for the 2014 season, a large amount for any wide receiver although with over $20 million in cap room remaining Philly had no need to shed Jackson's contract from their books. While Jackson had a few years left on his deal if it truly was his salary that motivated the Eagles to release him then surely a more prudent move would have been to keep him for the coming campaign before releasing him ahead of the 2015 season, when cap space is likely to be more of an issue.

One thing that can't be disputed is Jackson's undoubted talent and his ability to alter the game plans of opposing defenses. His speed is unmatched within the NFL and the deep threat he poses is a very real one, as demonstrated in this clip from a Monday Night Football game against the Washington Redskins in 2010. Opponents are forced to respect his ability to go deep by almost always posting safety help over the top, taking a defender out of the box and consequently opening things up in the run game. In addition to his speed Jackson also has great hands and Pro Football Focus had him down as the culprit of just three drops in 2013, while he posted career highs in receptions and receiving yards. His lack of size is concerning and he may be prone to picking up the occasional injury, but those two issues aside there is no logical reason for getting rid of such a talented and productive player.

The ins and outs of Jackson's off field actions remain a mystery to all of those outside the sanctuary of the Eagles locker room. But until a significant reason is divulged for his release Chip Kelly will face a lot of questions over his ruthless decision to get rid of the best receiver on the Philadelphia roster, and rightly so. Elite talents like Jackson don't grow on trees unfortunately, and it'll take some doing to replace not just his threat with the ball in his hands but the impact his mere presence has on his teammates when he's on the field. Perhaps the most telling fact is that at least six teams have already been in touch with Jackson's representatives about signing the former California wide-out. Chip Kelly may not want him, but there's plenty of other coaches around the NFL that do.

Three Winners, Losers From the First Day of NFL Free Agency

Former Patriots corner Aqib Talib will be strutting his stuff for Denver after the Broncos signed him to a six-year deal

Yesterday signaled the start of the new NFL year, which meant that it was also the date when players who were in the final year of their current contract's hit the open market. The 22nd edition of the annual free agency bonanza didn't disappoint in its opening act and according to Sports Illustrated's Peter King over $1 billion was spent by the 32 NFL franchises on new talent for the upcoming season and beyond. While it's far too early to predict which teams will make the most noise on the pitch later on in 2014 yesterday's transactions certainly helped benefited some teams and players more than others, and here's my pick of the winners and losers from day one of the NFL's annual 'musical chairs' free agency shuffle.

Three Winners

DeMarcus Ware

Ware had a disappointing season in 2013, struggling to overcome various injuries as he failed to consistently rush the passer as he had in previous seasons. Yet with his ailments healed Ware remains one of the better outside linebackers in the NFL and should he rediscover his burst then whoever picks him up will have landed a bargain. It's surprising that the Cowboys have opted to cut ties with the seven time pro bowler, who they selected 11th overall in the 2005 draft, yet with the team up against the salary cap ceiling Dallas clearly felt they couldn't afford to keep the former Troy standout around any longer. Ware now has his choice of top tier teams, up to seven play-off teams from 2013 are rumoured to have got in touch with Ware since his release, including the Superbowl runner-up Denver Broncos. Whether Ware lands in the Rocky mountains or elsewhere he's sure to find himself in a good position to compete for a Lombardi trophy, something he has been unable to do in big D during the first nine years of his stellar career. (Update: Ware has in fact signed for Denver)

Denver Broncos

Broncos general manager John Elway was one of the more aggressive executives around the league on the opening day of free agency, adding former New England cornerback Aqib Talib and Cleveland safety T.J Ward to bolster a secondary that needed upgrading. With Champ Bailey nearing the end of a likely hall of fame career and Domonique Rodgers-Cromartie testing free agency Denver needed to patch up their back four, something which they've achieved and then some with the addition of two of the top players available. The hard hitting Ward will add steel to the safety position while Talib is coming off a couple of impressive seasons for the Patriots, and although he comes with character concerns Elway is right to gamble that Talib will behave himself with the window of opportunity to win a Superbowl slowly closing as Peyton Manning nears retirement. Sometimes you have to be bold in an effort to push a good team over the top, something that Philadelphia were nearly able to do in 2004 when they added Jevon Kearse and Terrell Owens to an already talented roster.

New Orleans Saints

While the Saints lost safety Mike Jenkins to Philly they replaced him with arguably the best available player at his position, former Buffalo man Jairus Byrd. Byrd is excellent in coverage and plays centre field better than almost anyone in the league, something which will help a New Orleans secondary that was at times vulnerable to the big play last season. Rob Ryan began to turn the Saints D around from a historically bad showing in 2012 last year and with Byrd on board he should be able to continue that improvement, although the six year deal given to the player will limit the team's ability to spend elsewhere with both Jimmy Graham and Drew Brees' contracts counting heavily against the salary cap.

Three Losers

New England Patriots

Bill Belichick's team lost out in a big way when Talib jumped ship and signed for the rival Broncos, robbing the Patriots of perhaps their second best player after Tom Brady. The New England secondary now looks frighteningly light on talent, which is a major worry after Peyton Manning was able to torch them in the AFC championship game back in January. With most of the top players off the market Belichick will have to do some wheeling and dealing in the coming months if he's to retool New England in a bid to make another play-off run, something that could begin with the signing of the about to be released Tampa Bay corner Darrell Revis.

Oakland Raiders

Defensive end Lamarr Houston has bolted for Chicago on a five-year deal, while offensive tackle Jared Veldheer is now an Arizona Cardinal. Last years leading rusher Rashad Jennings has also gone and he'll be wearing New York Giant blue come September, which all in all has made it a fairly miserable start to free agency for the men in black. With over $60 million available in cap space it's surprising that Oakland haven't opted to spend in order to keep some of their better players, of which they don't have many, although they did manage to secure the services of running back Darren McFadden for another year at a team friendly price of $4 million.

Eric Decker

It looks extremely unlikely that Decker will be back with Denver next year, meaning that unless he arrives in Seattle (which is even more of a long shot) he'll have a poorer chance of making it back to the big game than his former team mates. Receivers and running backs appear to be of less value than ever this year with offensive lineman and cornerbacks picking up the big bucks, meaning Decker probably won't receive a large sum of compensation in addition to reducing his chances of winning a ring in 2015. That's not to say there isn't interest in the wide out, just that the dollar amount he'll receive won't match the deals that similarly skilled players at his position have gotten in previous years.

Let me know who you think has had a good or bad start to free agency in the comments, or you can tweet me @fredjstanley.

Size Matters: Johnny Manziel and the NFL Combine

Johnny Manziel has faced questions over his height as he prepares to enter the NFL

Every Spring the top prospects in college football assemble in Indianapolis for the NFL combine to be poked and prodded by their potential future employers before they participate in a number of physical assessments. These include the 40 yard dash and the bench press, each of which should give NFL executives an idea of just how fast and strong each prospect is.

However, while the results of these drills often gain all the headlines at the combine this year it's been the measurements of Johnny Manziel, aka Johnny "Football", that have caused a stir. The former Texas A & M quarterback was one of college football's most explosive players during his two seasons in action in Texas and he became the first ever freshman to win the prestigious Heisman Trophy after his excellent 2012 season. NFL legend Brett Favre recently said that watching film of Manziel felt like "watching film of a young me", and most mock drafts have him pegged to go within the first four picks. Yet despite all of the positive hype surrounding the young QB there remain a few concerns, chiefly his lack of prototypical quarterback size.

Before the combine began Manziel proclaimed that he would measure in at "72 inches on the dot", which equates to exactly six feet tall. Unfortunately for Johnny Football he came in a mammoth quarter of an inch under that mark, spurring questions about his ability to succeed in the NFL where players are bigger, stronger and faster than in the college game. Traditionally NFL quarterbacks are large physical specimens, tall enough to deliver throws over the pass rush while large enough in the body to absorb hits from ravenous defensive ends. Manziel is neither, unlike NFL contemporaries such as Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, who stand six feet four inches and six feet five inches tall respectively.

While Manziel is certain to face many questions from teams who are sceptical of his ability to succeed in spite of his lack of height, there is hope for the gunslinger. There have been examples in recent years that being tall doesn't necessarily correlate with success at the quarterback position. Drew Brees has developed into one of the great passers of his generation, winning a Superbowl and eclipsing 5,000 yards passing on multiple occasions. Yet he stands just six feet tall. Russell Wilson has also become a star in the league, winning the Superbowl this past month with Seattle despite dropping to the third round of the 2012 draft because of concerns over his five feet eleven inch frame. Both Brees and Wilson have overcome their lack of size to win titles in the NFL, and as a consequence they might be the biggest reason Manziel is in a position to be selected early in the first round of this May's draft. It's also worth noting that while many people are aware of Wilson slipping in the draft, many forget that Brees himself was a second round selection back in 2001. There isn't much precedent for selecting an undersized QB early on, putting Manziel in a unique position as he prepares to enter the league.

Another positive for Manziel this weekend has been the measurement of his hand size. He measured in at 9 7/8 inches, larger than those of fellow first round QB prospects Teddy Bridgewater (9 1/4) and Blake Bortles (9 3/8). Former NFL passer Daunte Culpepper once fumbled the football 66 times over a three season stretch. Guess what? Small hands. The same could be said of fumble machine Mike Vick: small hands. Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly once said he's more concerned with a quarterback's hand size than his height because it promotes ball security. Manziel's hands would certainly stand him in good stead with a coach like Kelly, and whether or not the executives of teams such as the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars agree could determine if Manziel goes as early as number one overall in a few weeks time. Just the fact that these measurements carry such weight makes this much clear: size matters in the National Football League.

Superbowl Rout Signals End of One Era, Beggining of Another

Pete Carroll hoists the Lombardi Trophy at MetLife Stadium after winning Superbowl XLVIII

As he trudged off the field at MetLife Stadium last night having seen his Denver Broncos defeated handily by a score of 43-8, Peyton Manning must have wondered if the chance to win a second Superbowl title had passed him by. At 37 years-old and coming off of the best season of his or any quarterback's career Superbowl XLVIII represented the perfect opportunity for Manning and the Broncos to win their first ring together, the leagues number one offense complimented by a stout defense with the legendary Manning leading the way. Yet from the first play last night, a safety following an airmailed snap from centre Manny Ramirez, the writing was on the wall for Manning and his teammates. While Manning has 11 post-season victories during his storied career last night's loss was the twelfth defeat to stain his play-off resume, while head coach John Fox has an equally unimpressive play-off track record after the defeat dropped his Superbowl record to 0-2 following his first defeat ten years ago while in charge of the Carolina Panthers.

With age working against him and both the Chiefs and Chargers on the rise in the AFC west it's no certainty that Manning will get another chance to play in the biggest game the sport has to offer, especially after the boisterous Seattle defense showed the rest of the league exactly how to stifle Manning and the high octane Denver offense. His arm devoid of the strength it once possessed, the Broncos QB no longer is able to burn defenses deep and that enabled Seahawks safety's Earl Thomas III and Kam Chancellor to squat on underneath routes, punishing receivers for even thinking about catching the ball and conceding just a few yards upon each rare completion. After Denver found themselves in an early 15-0 hole offensive coordinator Adam Gase changed tac and ditched crossing routes for screen plays, often to wide receivers on the perimeter, and although the tactic reaped initial reward the Seattle defense soon adjusted and their speed to the ball and ability to shed blocks soon stifled that plan. Former Patriot wideout Wes Welker is another whose bad luck in Superbowl's continued, the diminutive pass catcher losing his third title game after two defeats with New England. Eight catches for 84 yards represented a respectable haul for Welker, however with Denver chasing the game from the outset there was little he could do to turn the monumental tide.

While one of the games greats may be seeing his chances of success diminish another star may have already emerged. Russell Wilson didn't have an outstanding game last night, thanks to the work of his defense he didn't have to, yet he performed efficiently and by completing 18 of 25 passes with two touchdowns and no interceptions he helped his team turn the screw and not let a dangerous Broncos offense back into the game. In many ways Wilson is reminiscent of a young Tom Brady, an unheralded prospect chosen relatively late in the draft who has almost immediately burst onto the scene as a fully fledged superstar. His coolness under pressure also mimics Brady's and with the pieces in place around him it would be no surprise were he to match the Patriot gunslinger's tally of three Superbowl rings by the end of his career.

Wilson's coach, former USC head honcho Pete Carroll, is another man who has enhanced his legacy with this win. After winning a national title with Southern California in 2005 yesterday's victory made Carroll just the third head coach to win a title at both collegiate and professional level, joining former Cowboy's coaches Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer. Much like Wilson, perhaps even because of him, Carroll has every chance of adding to his success with the strong core of players and staff he has built in the Pacific north west. Throughout the history of football many great coaches have been partnered by great signal callers, from Joe Montana and Bill Walsh through to Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. It may be early days but Wilson and Carroll are good enough and are certainly on the right path to belonging in that esteemed company.

Back in 2001 when a young Brady led the New England Patriots to a famous upset of the St. Louis Rams, then the greatest show on turf, many people anticipated Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk and company would be back on the biggest stage of all in the not to distant future. Faulk never returned, while Warner had to change organisations and wait eight years before he got another opportunity with the Arizona Cardinals in 2009. Unfortunately Peyton Manning he doesn't have that kind of time, and rightly or wrongly when discussing his career it'll be difficult not to mention his puzzling post-season record. Yet as one icon exits the stage, another has appeared. Enter Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks, the golden boy and golden team of football's new age.

Superbowl XLVIII Preview: Seattle Seahawks v Denver Broncos

Denver QB Peyton Manning will face Seattle's top rated pass defense in Superbowl XLVIII

The Match-Up

Seattle Seahawks (13-3) v Denver Broncos (13-3)

Met Life Stadium, New Jersey

6.30 PM (ET) Kick Off

After a season packed with drama, exceptional performances, injuries and upsets the Superbowl is finally upon us. For the first time in a long time the two number one seeds from each conference will square off in America's biggest sporting event, held outside in a cold weather city for the first time ever this coming Sunday. Met Life Stadium in New Jersey is the venue and although concerns still exist over the anticipated cold weather recent reports suggest the temperature on Sunday night will be mild and the weather won't have too much of a bearing on the outcome. Both John Fox and Pete Carroll, head coaches of the Broncos and Seahawks respectively, are searching for their first NFL title although Carroll won three national championships in college with the University of Southern California and Fox was the coach of the Carolina Panthers when they lost to the New England Patriots in Superbowl XXXVIII by a mere three points.

Seattle are one of the more outspoken teams in the NFL and while Richard Sherman's post-NFC Championship game outburst made headlines the lack of verbals from Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch was one of the main talking points from the annual pre-Superbowl media day featuring players from both teams. Seattle's number one defense takes on the number one ranked Denver offense in a mouth watering clash, with the bad boy 'hawks more than ready to go nose to nose with one of the most respected players in the NFL, Peyton Manning. Manning is searching for a second Superbowl ring after his 2006 triumph with Indianapolis, a total which would match his brother Eli after his dual successess with the New York Giants in 2007 and 2011. Playing at Eli's home stadium a legacy cementing victory would be all that much sweeter for Manning, arguably the NFL's greatest ever signal caller coming off an exceptional season in which he broke the NFL's single season touchdown mark with an astronomical 55 scoring passes.

When Seattle has the ball..

With ball control an important part of any teams game plan against a Peyton Manning led offense don't be surprised to see Marshawn Lynch add to his 50 carries so far this post-season. Those carries have come at an average of exactly five yards per play, a healthy number that has enabled the Seahawks offense to not rely on the arm of sophomore QB Russell Wilson a great deal. Nonetheless Wilson played well throughout January and while he has only thrown one touchdown pass he hasn't thrown an interception, keeping the Seattle defense off the field for long stretches at a time. Wilson has however been sacked seven times in just two play-off games, something Denver will look to exploit even without star pass rusher Von Miller who's injured.

Broncos linebacker Danny Trevathan has had a stellar post-season and as a force in the middle of the field he'll be tasked with stopping Lynch and the Seattle ground game. Defensive tackle Terrance Knighton has also played well and if he can clog up running lanes in the middle and keep Trevathan free it'll help the Denver defense greatly in their efforts to make Wilson shoulder more of the offensive burden for the Seahawks. Should that be the case then Percy Harvin's return from a concussion could be pivotal for Pete Carroll's men. Harvin missed 15 of 16 regular season contests with a hip injury, something he should be over now though a fair amount of rust could remain. Fellow receiver Doug Baldwin should compliment Harvin in the passing game, with speedy Broncos corner Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie likely to draw Baldwin in coverage with veteran Champ Bailey taking Harvin or Golden Tate. In an effort to restrict the time Wilson has in the pocket Denver will look towards outside linebacker Shaun Phillips, who's two sacks so far during the play-offs lead the team.

When Denver has the ball..

After yet another record breaking season Peyton Manning is the man Seattle will have to stop if they are to earn the first Superbowl title in franchise history, with the best passing offense in the NFL going up against the best pass defense in the league. After recording 28 interceptions during the regular season Manning will be aware of the Seahawks secondary's ball hawking ability, led by cornerback Richard Sherman who will likely be isolated in one on one coverage for the majority of Sunday's game. Demaryius Thomas is the biggest deep threat the Broncos possess so he could be the guy Sherman is assigned to cover, however Wes Welker and Eric Decker are also potent threats in the passing game so Sherman's fellow corner Byron Maxwell will also have to be at the top of his game to prevent Manning moving the football through the air. Seattle safeties Cam Chancellor and Earl Thomas will also have to excel in coverage, either covering the slot receiver or tight end Julius Thomas, a physical specimen who has emerged as one of Manning's favourite weapons.

Knowshon Moreno is a solid running back for Denver as is Monte Ball and while neither is expected to have a big game they'll be counted on to provide a change of pace in addition to keeping Manning upright in pass protection. Expect Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner to blanket Moreno and Ball on the ground, with Wagner looking to add to his impressive total of 24 tackles in two play-off games thus far. Defensive ends Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril will pose the Denver offensive line with a challenge greater than any they've faced so far this season, although it's worth mentioning that Manning was the least sacked quarterback in football this past year. With the Broncos offense mainly focused on short to intermediate throws down the field it would figure that the Seahawks defense will play a physical game and attempt to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage and beyond - whether the officials let them get away with any suspect contact remains to be seen and could be crucial to the outcome of the game.

Special Teams

Matt Prater had an excellent year for Denver and is used to kicking in cold weather, so that shouldn't be an issue for the man who holds the record for the longest field goal in league history. Seattle kicker Steven Hauschka also had a good year and made 14 of 15 kicks from over 40 yards and hasn't missed yet this post-season, however he doesn't quite possess Prater's leg strength.

The return of Percy Harvin should help aid a subdued Seahawks return game, while Eric Decker has emerged as a potentially game changing weapon for the Broncos fielding punts.

Injury Report

Aside from players already on injured reserve, such as Seattle's Sidney Rice and Denver's Von Miller, both teams are at pretty much full strength. Percy Harvin has been a full practice participant this week for the Seahawks after missing the NFC Championship game against San Francisco.

Weather

According to Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com the conditions at kick off should be perfect for football, with cloudy skies and a temperature of around 45 degrees expected despite initial fears the game could be significantly affected by the elements.

Remember you can listen to the American Football Focus Superbowl special podcast here, plus don't forget to vote for who you think will win Superbowl XLVIII