Pittsburgh Steelers

2007 record10-6

1st in AFC North

Team needs

The Steelers have been very active in free agency addressing their biggest needs at WR and Offensive Line. There is a smaller need for help at CB.

2008 first round draft position - 23rd

Cleveland Browns

2007 record 10-6

2nd in AFC North

Team Needs

The Browns are in desperate need of at least one impact Defensive End for their 3-4 . The signing of Stallworth alleviates the need for a WR.Look for the Browns to focus on the Defense with this draft

2008 first round draft position- no first round pick

Cincinnati Bengals

2007 record 7-9

3rd in AFC North

Team Needs

The Bengals need to continue to address their run defense as this continues to be a concern.The continuing saga of will Chad Johnson report or will he be traded necessitates the need for some attention to the WR position in the draft. If the Bengals move to a 3-4 as rumors suggest,also look for them to sign a playmaking Nose Tackle.

2008 first round draft position - 9th pick

Baltimore Ravens

2007 record 5-11

4th in AFC North

Team Needs

The first thing that the Ravens need to be addressing is the QB position. Steve McNair is injury prone and Kyle Boller has proven to be a less than effective starter. CB is another immediate need that needs to be addressed as both starters will be over 30 when the season starts.The OT and DE positions will also need to be addressed this year.

2008 first round draft position- 8th pick 

Former number 1 overall draft pick David Carr signed a one year, one million dollar deal with the New York Giants. Carr was the first pick in the 2002 NFL Draft and was the first ever pick of the expansion Houston Texans. Carr played last year with the Carolina Panthers and was released after struggling when he took over for the injured Jake Delhomme.

Carr will compete with Anthony Wright and Jared Lorenzen to back up Manning, the No. 1 overall pick in 2004.

We’ll start with the AFC East.

Buffalo Bills

2007 record 7-9

2nd in AFC East

Team needs

Coming of a sub .500 year, the Bills have a few major holes that need filling. The biggest need right of the top is a tall franchise WR that can stretch the field and complement the corp of speedy, but short receivers they currently have.The Bills also need a TE that can be a downfield threat. The D line struggled against the run last year and needs more muscle and also requires a speedy pass rusher

2008 first round draft position- 11th

Miami Dolphins

2007 record 1-15

4th in AFC East

Team needs

After a 1-15 season, what doesn’t need to be fixed? To date , free agency has helped shore up the pathetic Defensive Line and signing 3 Wide receivers is a step in the right direction. The Dolphins need to look to the future at the QB position and Josh McCown doesn’t seem to be it. Look for new GM Bill Parcells to continue his complete overhaul of the fish, with his trademark focus on the defensive side of the ball.

2008 first round draft position- 1st

NY Jets

2007 record 4- 12

3rd in AFC East

Team needs

The Jets have a number of needs that will need to be addressed further in free agency as well as the draft. One of the most obvious needs is at WR, where they need a speedy receiver who can stretch the field. They haven’t had a speed receiver since they traded away Santana Moss.Offensive line is another key weakness as the Jets O-line gave up 53 sacks last year. On the defensive side of the ball, look for the Jets to shore up the DE positions as well as both inside and outside Linebacker.

2008 first round draft position-6th

New England Patriots

2007 record 16-0

1st in AFC East

Team Needs

Aside from a new videotaping policy, the Pats are gong to need to find a CB to replace Samuel. While Bruschi re-signed, they may need a LB if Seau decides to retire. On a smaller scale, the Patriots are in need of a RB as future replacement for Kevin Faulk.

2008 first round draft position - 7th ( from San Francisco), 31st (forfeited as a result of illegal videotaping)

After 17 NFL seasons, Brett Favre has retired from professional football. In his press conference officially announcing his retirement  earlier today, Favre said he felt confident he could still play on Sundays but lacked the passion to practice and prepare the way he would need to week in and week out. His retirement came as a surprise to many after his outstanding play in the 2007 season leading the Packers to a 13-3 regualr season record and the NFC Championsionship game where they lost to eventual Super Bowl champions NY Giants.

Favre takes a number of records with him into retirement including 3 NFL MVP titles, 61,655 passing yards, 442 Touchdown passes, and 160 career victories.  His most dubious record is his 288 interceptions.

Ben Roethlisberger just signed an 8 year $102 million dollar contract extension with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The contract includes $36 million in guarantees, easily making the franchise QB the highest paid Steeler and one of the highest paid players in the game.

Roethlisberger now joins Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Carson Palmer, Donovan McNabb, the suspended Michael Vick and the retired Drew Bledsoe in the $100 million quarterback club.

Roethlisberger turned 26 on Sunday.Not a bad birthday present at all

Free Agent Tracker

Today marks the beginning of the 2008 NFL free agency and trading period.  I have put together a number of charts outlining the various players by position who are eliglible free agents. As new deals are made and announced, I’ll update the sheets.  I started with the QB’s today and will have sheets for RB.WR/TE offensive and Defensive positions as well.

Free Agent Tracker

Earlier today, the Philadelphia Eagles released DE Jevon Kearse. Kearse had been with the Eagles for four seasons, but was considered a disappointment during his oft injured tenure. he recorded only 4.5 sacks in 14 games last season after missing most of the 2006 campaign with a knee injury.Kearse has been voted into the Pro Bowl twice in his career.

On Tuesday , the New England Patriots released LB Rosevelt Colvin, who was a member of two Super Bowl winning teams but also missed significant time with injuries. Colvin signed with the Patriots as an unrestricted free agent in March 2003.

The Kansas City Chiefs released veteran wide receiver Eddie Kennison on Tuesday.

Kennison, 35, played 7 seasons for the Chiefs  and was their top wide receiver for most of that time. in 2007, he was limited by hamstring and shoulder injuries to only eight games, catching 13 passes for 101 yards.

The 6-1, 201-pound receiver played in 91 games for the Chiefs, catching 321 passes for 5,230 yards and 25 touchdowns. He had 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2004 and 2005, joining Carlos Carson as the only players in Chiefs history to accomplish that feat.

Besides the Chiefs, Kennison has played for St. Louis, New Orleans, Chicago and Denver during his 12-year career.