TAMPA, Fla.
[b]Jaire Alexander Super Bowl Jersey[/b] . -- Revis Island is relocating again. Less than a year after moving from the New York Jets to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a blockbuster trade that enabled him to become the highest paid cornerback in the NFL, the three-time All-Pro known for stranding opposing receivers in man coverage is out of work. He was dumped in a cost-cutting move. The Bucs released Revis on Wednesday after efforts to trade him and his $16 million annual salary. "It was a tough decision. Hes a very good player," general manager Jason Licht said during a news conference introducing four of the five free agents as he and new coach Lovie Smith push forward with plans to overhaul a team that went 4-12 last season. "We were able to get three very good players," Smith chimed at one point in support of what Licht described as a roadmap for success "for almost for the price of one." Cutting the 28-year-old Revis saved the Bucs a $1.5 million bonus that the five-time Pro Bowl selection would have been due if he remained on the roster. It also freed additional space under the salary cap, which the team intends to use to try to improve a roster that has several glaring weaknesses. "Were not trying to build slowly," Smith added. "We were a 4-12 team. Theres a lot we have to do." Revis was obtained in a pre-draft trade from the New York Jets last spring, a deal orchestrated by former coach Greg Schiano and GM Mark Dominik that cost the Bucs a first-round draft in 2013, as well as a fourth-rounder this year. If Revis had remained on Tampa Bays roster at 4 p.m. Wednesday, he would have been due the bonus and the 2014 pick the Bucs sent to the Jets would have become a third-rounder. Revis was recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee when he joined the Bucs and was given a six-year, $96 million contract. Despite not being 100 per cent physically, he appeared in all 16 games and was selected to play in the Pro Bowl last season, when he had two interceptions, a sack and two forced fumbles. "Darrelle showed a lot of heart last year as he worked extremely hard to get himself back on the field following his knee injury sustained the previous season," Licht said. "We have specific ideas regarding the best way to build this defence and, while you never like to lose a good player, we believe this is in the best interests of our team moving forward," the GM added. "Darrelle was a true professional here in Tampa Bay and we wish him continued success in his career." The release came less than an hour after the Bucs confirmed free agent quarterback Josh McCown had agreed to terms of a two-year contract, a move that reunites him with Smith. A career backup, the 12th-year pro is coming off the best season of his career with Chicago. McCown started five games in place of the injured Jay Cutler for the Bears in 2013, going 3-2 and finishing the year with 13 touchdown passes vs. one interception. McCown was a third-round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2002. He spent the past two seasons with the Bears, including 2012 -- Smiths last year in Chicago. McCown, who turns 35 in July, will compete with second-year pro Mike Glennon for the starting job. Glennon started 13 games as a rookie for the Bucs, who fired Schiano and Dominik after missing the playoffs for the sixth straight season. Smith and Licht were hired in January and entered free agency determined to make some bold moves. In addition to signing McCown, the Bucs landed defensive end Michael Johnson, cornerback Alterraun Verner, defensive tackle Clinton McDonald and tight end Brandon Myers on Tuesday, the first day team could complete deals. "Were not simply talent collectors," Licht said. "Were finding the right fits." Improving the pass rush is a major priority. Signing Johnson (15 sacks over the past two seasons with Cincinnati) to a five-year, $47.5 million contract, and also nabbing McDonald (5 1-2 sacks in 2013 with Super Bowl champion Seattle) addresses that need. Myers was a productive tight end with Oakland and the New York Giants the past two seasons. Verner received a four-year, $26.5 million deal to fill the void created by the departure of Revis, regarded as one of the top players in the league at his position. The 25-year-old Verner had a career-best five interceptions and made the Pro Bowl last season with the Tennessee Titans. "I wouldnt say Im here to replace Revis," Verner said. "Im looking to try to be the very best player I can be."
[b]Kyler Fackrell Super Bowl Jersey[/b] .Jeff Green, playing in his second preseason game after missing the first four because of a calf strain, had 18 points. The Celtics (3-3) shot 47.2 per cent from the floor and made 15 of 37 3-point attempts.
[b]Blake Martinez Super Bowl Jersey[/b] .ca! There is plenty of blame to be shared as a result of the most recent NHL player (Pittsburghs Brooks Orpik) to be evacuated from the ice on a stretcher following an ugly incident Saturday night in Boston.Buffalo Bills 1 (4) - Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson; 2 (44) - Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama; 3 (79) - Preston Brown, ILB, Louisville; 4 (109) Ross Cockrell, CB, Duke; 5 (153) - Cyril Richardson, OG, Baylor; 7 (221) - Randell Johnson, OLB, Florida Atlantic; 7 (237) - Seantrel Henderson, OT, Miami Top Picks Analysis: Buffalo was very active in an attempt to help speed up the development of second-year quarterback EJ Manuel. Bills GM Doug Whaley proved to be bold, trading up five spots to get one of the four real blue-chip players in the draft, Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins at No. 4 overall. The problem is they gave up a ton to do it, surrendering next years first-round pick to Cleveland in order to jump up five spots. "You have a young quarterback in EJ Manuel; a talented kid. Now they want to surround him with a weapon, and they went and the premier wide receiver in this draft," NFL Draft analyst Mike Mayock said. Whaley also attempted to sure up things in front of Manuel by landing Alabama offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio in the second round before addressing defense in the third by landing Louisville inside linebacker Preston Brown, who should serve as the backup in the middle to the newly-signed Brandon Spikes. Best Value Pick: Kouandjio is a comparable talent to D.J. Fluker, who went No. 11 overall in the 2013 draft. Concerns over the big mans knee sent him tumbling a bit so getting a talent like Kouandjio at a need position with the 44th pick is the definition of great value. "Kouandjio slipped to the second round mostly because of a knee injury and the rumors surrounding it. He is a big, powerful tackle; think Phil Loadholt from Minnesota," Mayock said. "Hes so long that not many can get by him in pass protection." Questionable Calls: With or without Watkins most believe Buffalo wont be contending for a playoff spot in 2014 so giving up next years first-round choice could prove to be very painful next year. Summary: Whaley also traded veteran receiver Stevie Johnson to the San Francisco 49ers for an undisclosed 2015 draft choice and acquired Philadelphia running back Bryce Brown for a future conditional mid-round draft pick. Moving Johnson was expected once Watkins was in the fold but acquiring Brown, a pure talent with fumbling issues, for a meaningful pick when you already have CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson on the depth chart was a head-scratcher. Anytime you get a player like Watkins there is plenty of good in the draft but there were just too many questionable moves surrounding the acquisition to call it a home run. FINAL GRADE: B- Undrafted rookie free agent signings: DT Damien Jacobs, Florida; DB Deon Broomfield, Iowa State; CB Darius Robinson, Clemson; LB Darrin Kitchens, Florida; S Kenny Ladler, Vanderbilt; OL Jimmy Gaines, Miami; DB Derek Brim, Buffalo Miami Dolphins 1 (19) - JaWuan James, OT, Tennessee; 2 (63) - Jarvis Landry, WR, LSU; 3
Billy Turner, OT, North Dakota State; 4 (125) - Walt Aikens, CB, Liberty; 5 (155) - Arthur Lynch, TE, Georgia; 5 (171) - Jordan Tripp, OLB, Montana; 6 (190) - Matt Hazel, WR, Coastal Carolina; 7 (234) - Terrence Fede, DE, Marist Top Pick Analysis: Miami general manager Dennis Hickey developed tunnel vision in his first draft, reaching for Tennessee offensive tackle JaWuan James with the 19th overall pick. James was given a second- to third-round grade by most and there were probably 30 to 40 players left on the board who project as better players than James on the professional level. Hickey settled down in the second round and was able to get talented LSU wide receiver Jarvis Landry, a strong route runner with tremendous hands. In the third Miami went back to the offensive line with North Dakota State project Billy Turner, a raw player with a solid upside. Best Value Pick: Fifth-round linebacker Jordan Tripp of Montana can really run and should be an elite special-teamer at the bare minimum. Questionable Calls: Clearly offensive tackle was a need position for the Dolphins but prioritizing need over talent at No. 19 overall is a very poor decision. The names picked directly behind James were Brandin Cooks, Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix and Johnny Manziel. In a game of who doesnt belong? James sticks out like a sore thumb. Summary: Hickeys self-described analytics approach produced some very strange results. Either he is the smartest guy in the room or hes in over his head. FINAL GRADE: C- Undrafted rookie free agent signings: QB Brock Jensen, North Dakota State; CB Steven Clarke, Vanderbilt; DT Curtis Porter, Miami; DT Anthony Johnson, LSU; WR Rantavious Wooten, Georgia; OT David Hurd, Arkansas; S Demetrius Wright, USC; TE/FB Gator Hoskins, Marshall; DL Shayron Green, Miami; OL Evan Finkenberg, Arizona State; DE Trevor Mims, USF; CB Deion Belue, Alabama; DT Garrison Smith, Georgia; WR Ryan Lankford, Illinois; P Stephen Clark, Auburn; LB Tariq Edwards, Virginia Tech; OT Gasten Gabriel, Southeastern Louisiana; OLB Derrell Johnson, East Carolina; C Tyler Larsen, Utah State; G Devointe Wallace, New Mexico State; RB Damien Williams, Oklahoma; LB Andrew Wilson, Missouri; K Anthony Fera, Texas; OLB Marcus Thompson, Rutgers New England Patriots 1 (29) - Dominique Easley, DT, Florida; 2 (62) - Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois; 4 (105) Bryan Stork, OC, Florida State; 4 (130) - James White, RB, Wisconsin; 4 (140) - Cameron Fleming, OT, Stanford; 6 (1779) - Jon Halapio, OG, Florida; 6 (198) - Zach Moore, DE, Concordia; 6 (206) - Jemea Thomas, CB, Georgia Tech; 7 (244) Jeremy Gallon, WR, Michigan Top Picks Analysis: The Patriots gambled and selected Florida defensive tackle Dominique Easley with the 29th overall pick.
[b]Aaron Rodgers Super Bowl Jersey[/b]. . Easley is a top-10 talent with a history of significant knee problems playing a position which demands he carries a lot of weight on his 6-foot-2 frame. Easley tore both of his ACLs during his time in Gainesville, Fla., most recently damaging the ACL and meniscus in his right knee last September, cutting short was shaping up as a monster season for the Staten Island, N.Y., native. Easley has always shown the kind of quick, active hands that are a staple of three-technique stars in the NFL and despite being "undersized" at 288 pounds has always been able to hold his own against the run thanks to impressive core and lower-body strength. "He was a top 30 pick until he tore his ACL in September," NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said. "Hes quick and explosive. A lot of people felt like he was going to drop because of the ACL. This is a typical Bill Belichick pick. The rest of the league discounted his talent, but hell be in training camp. The Patriots needed defensive linemen and this kid is gifted." In the second round New England may have invested in the heir to Tom Bradys throne in Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Brady still has plenty of shelf life left but he is 36 and current backup Ryan Mallett will likely be moving on sooner rather than later. "This kids got a quick release, good arm and is very athletic," Mayock said of Garoppolo. "Tom Brady, at his age, and Ryan Malletts uncertain status forces this pick. This is an insurance policy for an unknown future." Best Value Pick: Offensive tackle Cameron Fleming, the teams fourth-round pick from Stanford, fits very well into what the Patriots do offensively and could develop into a future starter on the right side of the offensive line. Questionable Calls: Remember it isnt about one knee injury with Easley, we are at two and counting. If the Pats wanted help on the defensive line they could have looked at another player with an extremely high ceiling and no real injury history, RaShede Hageman. Summary: Call this the risk/reward draft for New England. They could hit it big with Easley and Garoppolo or end up with nothing. Final Grade: B- Undrafted rookie free agent signings: TE Tyler Beck, Bowling Green; RB Roy Finch, Oklahoma; DL Micajah Reynolds, Michigan State; LB James Morris, Iowa; DB Travis Hawkins, Delaware; TE Justin Jones, East Carolina; DL Deylan Buntyn, N.C. State; OLB Cameron Gordon, Michigan; LS Tyler Ott, Harvard; TE Asa Watson, N.C. State; DT Sealii Espensa, UCLA; WR Ja-Mes Logan, Ole Miss; RB Stephen Houston, Indiana; LB Deontae Skinner, Mississippi State; CB Malcolm Butler, West Alabama; S Jeremy Deering, Rutgers; LB Cameron Gordon, Michigan New York Jets 1 (18) - Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville; 2 (49) - Jace Amaro, TE, Texas A&M; 3 (80) - Dexter McDougle, CB, Maryland; 4 (104) - Jalen Saunders, WR, Oklahoma; 4 (115) - Shaq Evans, WR, UCLA; 4 (137) - Dakota Dozier, OT, Furman; 5 (154) - Jeremiah George, ILB, Iowa State; 6 (195) - Brandon Dixon, CB, Northwest Missouri State; 6 (209) - Quincy Enunwa, WR, Nebraska; 6 (210) - IK Enemkpali, DE, Louisiana Tech; 6 (213) - Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson; 7 (233) - Trevor Riley, OLB, Utah Top Picks Analysis: Cornerback seemed like the bigger need for the Jets but John Idzik and Rex Ryan couldnt pass up Louisville safety Calvin Pryor with the 18th overall pick. An old school, seek-and-destroy safety, Pryor is a little bit better in coverage than he gets credit for anda lot of scouts have described him as a bigger Bob Sanders. If the second round New York added to its improved playmaking unit on offense by selecting Texas A&M tight end Jace Amaro, who is more of a glorified slot receiver in the mold of Aaron Hernandez than a traditional "Y." "I like this pick a lot for the Jets as they try to fortify their offensive firepower," NFL Network draft analyst Charles Davis said. "(Amaro) is a physical route runner. He gets into seams very well. Once he catches the ball, he becomes an excellent ball carrier." Rex finally got his corner in the third round when Idzik tabbed Marylands Dexter McDougle, who isnt very big but runs pretty well. Best Value Pick: Shaq Evans, a fourth-round wide receiver out of UCLA, has impressive size and solid hands. He could develop into a solid possession receiver who can work the middle of the field and prove to be a chain-mover. Questionable Calls: McDougle has a shoulder problem and was rated as a late- round pick by most. His ceiling as a player is likely a sub-package slot option. Summary: The top two picks were very good and things tapered off a bit from there. FINAL GRADE: B Undrafted rookie free agent signings: DT Kerry Hyder Jr, Texas Tech; OT Tevon Conrad, Saginaw Valley State; LB Nick Dimarco, William Penn; LB Steele Divitto, Boston College; OT Brent Qvale, Nebraska; DE Zach Thompson, Wake Forest; K Michael Palardy, Tennessee; FB Chad Young, San Diego State; WR Jermaine Jones, St. Augustine; DL Anthony Grady, Missouri State; WR Terrence Miller, Arizona; WR DeMario Bennett, Coastal Carolina ' ' '
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