Darrelle Revis' Contract Hold Out

The New York Jets' Darrelle Revis has been a no show at Jets' training camp.  He is holding out of the Jets training camp because he wants a restructured contract.  The Jets are treading on thin ice with center Nick Mangold and linebacker David Harris also wanting new contracts. Can the Jets give Revis more money without extending Mangold's and Harris' contracts?

Revis' Current Contract

Darrelle Revis still has 3 years remaining on his rookie contract. But he is only expected to be paid $1 million this season. That is peanuts for a cornerback that Jets head coach Rex Ryan called the best in the league. Revis wants to be paid as such and seems willing to hold out until it happens and pay $16,000 a day for missing camp. The only issue is that no one knows what the salary cap will be next season and contracts can only be increase 30% while still active.

Jets Extend Coach and GM Contracts

Revis is probably confused by the fact that the Jets extended the contracts of coach Rex Ryan and general manager Mike Tannenbaum. Though this money doesn't count towards the salary cap, Revis knows that he is part of the reason why they could receive a contract extension.

New England Patriots Preview

The New England Patriots are the perennial favorites in the AFC East even when they don't have the best teams. All their success and dominance in the the last decade put them and their coach on a pedal stool. They won 10 and lost 6 games last year but lost in a Wild Card match up against the Baltimore Ravens. The Patriots are hoping to improve this year, but that will be hard since they didn't really improve on either side of the ball.

The Patriots Offense

Never mind Tom Brady's contract extension negotiations. That will be completed at some point. But lets focus on his receivers. The biggest question mark is Wes Welker. Welker caught 10 passes in 7 games last season. That was 4 more than any other receiver. The amazing thing is that Welker only played in 14 games because he tore his knee up late in the season against the Texans. Welker is practicing and is off the PUP list. However, it is hard to believe he will be 100% for the beginning of the season after sustaining such an injury so late in the season. If Welker is placed back on the PUP list he will have to sit out the first six games of the season. Without Welker, the offense will not be the same, especially if the defense doesn't take a step.

The Patriot's Defense Preview

The Patriots removed all the pictures of the championship teams during the off season. This was done to not remind the young defense who they replaced. The young defense had a tough time replicating the success of the past players. The Patriots seems focused on allowing this defense to create their own identity and didn't add any real talent during the off season. Defenses mature after multiple seasons, not only one.

Reports States Brett Favre is Retiring

Around 11:00 am EST today, ESPN reported that Brett Favre is retiring. According to their sources, Favre had contacted Viking personnel via text messages. Head Coach Brad Childress said that he wouldn't comment on the reports until he hears it "from the horse's mouth."

Favre's Reason for Retirement

During the ESPY's last month, Favre said he still wanted to play but that his ankle hasn't quite healed. At that point, it was 8 weeks since he had surgery to remove bone spurs. He said he can walk fine, but "you don't walk in football." Being that it is his right foot it could cost a lot of trouble for the aging quarterback. The right foot would be his planting foot when passing. Without it being healthy, Favre wouldn't be able to play like he did the last 19 seasons.

Minnesota Vikings Quarterback

Tavaris Jackson is slated for the starting role if Favre doesn't change his mind in the next few weeks. Jackson led the Vikings to playoffs in 2008, a year before Favre was signed. After Jackson is Sage Rosenfels. Sage has played on a few other teams but has never had much success. The absence of Favre and his stable passing game, the Viking will have to lean on Adrian Peterson and hope he can overcome the fumbling issues he has had in the past.

AFC North Future Bets

The AFC North is a tough division that has been ruled during recent years by two teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens.  But ever few years the Bengals come in flexing their muscles like last year.  With a tough division like this, it is hard to pick the division winner.  One thing is normal though, it isn't always the favorite. 

AFC North Favorite

For the last 10 years, everyone has touted the Baltimore Raven's defense. Now people are crowning Joe Flacco as the next franchise quarterback. With a big play running back in Ray Rice and the addition of Anquan Boldin there is no shock to learn that the Ravens are the favorite to win the AFC North at -195. But Flacco does have issues when being hurried and the defense is old and hurt. Free safety Ed Reed is on the PUP list and out for the first 6 games of the season and Domonique Foxworth went down the other day for the season after tearing his ACL. Those question marks makes me weary to lay money on a team in such a physical and tough division.

AFC North Vaule Bet

Even before the Cincinnati Bengals signed Terrel Owens, they were a nice pick at +350. Cedric Benson rushed for over 1200 yard last season when teams stuffed the box with 8 players. Now that T.O. in on the team, teams will not be able to focus as much on the run and only Chad Ochocinco. The signing of T.O. brought the line down to +300. With a defense that ranked 4th in yards allowed last season, the Bengals are a great value bet to repeat as AFC North Champions.

NFC West Future Bet

As the NFL season becomes closer and closer every day, it is time to look at the conferences and my future bets. The NFC West is possibly the weakest division of the entire league. But there is some nice value in the bet.

NFC West Favorite

The San Fransisco 49ers have been slowly building their team via the NFL Draft and have made strides each and every season. The sportsbooks believe that this is their year. Being led by quarterback Alex Smith, they are being the favorite to win the division at -210.

NFC West Value Bet

In a division that is arguably the weakest in the entire NFL, any team except for the St. Louis Rams have a chance to win the NFC West. But there is only one team that doesn't have a question mark at quarterback. The Seattle Seahawks have a healthy veteran returning this season in Matt Hasselbeck. They signed a could running back such as Leon Washington. Not to mention they have T.J. Housmazada as a play-making wide receiver. The defense might be questionable, but so are the other teams' defenses in the division. In such a weak division, the Seahawks are a sexy value bet at +475.

Albert Haynesworth Attends Training Camp, Meets with Coaches

After holding out from OTAs during the off season, Albert Haynesworth reported to training camp yesterday. Haynesworth met with Coach Mike Shanahan and Defensive Coordinator Jim Haslett. Only time will show if this relationship is mended and if it will work.

Mike Shanahan Remarks About Haynesworth

Washington Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan said that Haynesworth will have to pass a physical fitness test and won't participate until he does. That doesn't sound like much of a problem since Haynesworth apparently has trimmed down and reported to camp in the best shape of his career.

Haynesworth Meets with Jim Haslett

As defensive coordinator, Jim Haslett will have to deal with Haynesworth more than Shanahan. In a meeting with the $100 million dollar defensive lineman was told that he will have plenty of play making opportunities while playing in the 3-4 defense scheme that is being implemented this year. Haynesworth says that he understands that he will have to play nose tackle at times during games.

Haynesworth only needs to look a few hundred miles away to see how a nose tackle can make an impact on a defense. Pittsburgh Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton has been a Pro Bowler in multiple years while playing in the successful defensive scheme.

Terrell Owens Signs $2M Deal with Cincinnati

The Terrell Owens saga ended yesterday evening with the announcement that he agreed to a contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. The deal will strengthen the passing attack for the team that won the AFC North last season.

Addition to Offense

The addition of T.O. gives quarterback Carson Palmer two explosive wide receivers. They already have a running game with Cedric Benson, but teams loaded the box last year while double teaming Chad "Johnson" Ochocincho. T.O. will give the team an improved aerial assault but will also give the running game more room.

T.O. Contract

T.O. signed a one year $2 million contract with the Bengals. He could earn a total of $4 million with incentives. There are six incentives in his contract each equaling around $330,000. This bonus money is performance based and will be paid when and if he:

1. Has 60 receptions
2. Has 100 receptions
3. Has 900 yards
4. Has 1300 yards
5. Has 10 touchdowns
6. Has 14 touchdowns

Chad and T.O. are good friends off the field, but it will be interesting to see if anything changes when T.O. is close to his incentives.