Rex Burkhead will be a bigger part of the Patriots offense than people think.  By John Sarianides 1.It is about time Dont’a Hightower made a decision! Jeesh! By the way, I don’t think it is a lock that he is re-signing with the Patriots. 2. Yes. It is time for the Patriots to trade Malcolm Butler. They won’t pay him elite money and he doesn’t want to be in New…

By John Sarianides One of my favorite expressions regarding leadership is the fish rots from the head down. In the case of the Washington Redskins, it really does. Redskins owner Daniel Snyder is a wealthy, highly successful, intelligent businessman who owns one of the most storied franchises in the NFL. Yet, despite that, he can’t seem to figure what direction he wants to take the franchise in. Some times he…

By John Sarianides The first day of the new year in the NFL usually features record breaking contracts being handed out to skill guys. Those contracts were given out but it is the money that free agent offensive lineman got that caught my attention. Several biggies got big money deals. The biggest contract of the day was handed out by the Cleveland Browns who gave former Cincinnati Bengals guard Kevin…

The Browns brain trust was active on the first day of free agency.  By John Sarianides Day one of the new year league has been as busy as we thought it would be. Here are some thoughts on what has gone down so far.  1. Stephon Gilmore signing a five, $60 million dollar deal with the Patriots is surprising. Belichick threw us a 12 to 6 curveball and we didn’t see…

By John Sarianides The insanity that is free agency is upon us. The money will start flowing at 4pm tomorrow and there will be plenty to go around.  Here are my top 30 free agents and where I think they will end up.  1. Brandon Williams, NT, Baltimore: Williams is a precious commodity in today’s NFL. A run stuffing nose tackle who can also rush the passer. The Giants broke the…

By John Sarianides Free agency unofficially opens today and there are several teams that are flushed with cap space. Some teams will use it, other won’t. Here are the five teams that I think are going to be big spenders come Thursday. 1. San Francisco 49ers: New GM John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have to re-tool one of the worst rosters in the league. The draft is one way…

By John Sarianides Four downs is four stories that piqued my interest today. Here goes.  1st Down: Romo to the Jags? Really? Todd Archer of ESPN Dallas reported that there was some chatter this weekend at the combine regarding Tony Romo possibly being traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars.  I think there is some legitimacy to this report. Jags Czar Tom Coughlin wants to win now. He doesn’t buy Blake Bortles as…

By John Sarianides Buy or Don’t Buy is my answer to football insiders who report information they have gathered from sources. I don’t have any sources so therefore I am going to tell you whether or not I buy or don’t buy a story they have reported.  Here are five stories that were reported this week. Let’s see if I buy them or don’t buy them. 1. Adam Schefter Reports…