As per Rich Cimini, Andrew Sendejo has been released today creating a spot on the 53 man roster, apparently only signed to spy on the Cowboys game plan.

He has also reported Matt Berning was cut from the PS, a bit disappointed he looked good in preseason, I guess he wasn't impressing in practice.

Cimini also reported earlier in the day Tully Banta Cain would not be signed, wonder who we are opening up a spot for (actually two if you count the PS spot). Any speculations?

No matter who we sign from here out we need to sign at least one safety, considering Pool, Dig, and E. Smith are all FAs, we are left with exactly 3 on the roster (not counting UDFA). Not to mention those three consist of a converted CB Lowery who has like 6 games at S,  Emanual Cook, who I think has yet to play a regular season game, and spent almost the whole year on the practice squad, and Leonhard who is coming back from an awful injury, probably a step slower, ( ets hope not any shorter). So now for the magic question who do we go after and who can we get?

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Ok like many of you I spend my off season researching the draft. It's a magical time where you can dream of getting the next fourth round superstar, or the steal no one considered.  I do this by usually reading every piece of info I can get my hands on, watching as many clips as a can, etc, etc. At 37 years old this is something I've been doing since the early 90's. and in the some 20 + years since I began there has been an increase every year in the number of sources you can get your info from (wow, what it was like before the internet). The one constant for me through out that time though has been the Sporting News Draft preview, that started as my primary source probably back in 1992, and I have gotten on every year since. It has always been the most well put together and best presented preview on the news stands. Now with all Draft Preview magazines it was never 100% right, it would miss a lot, I fully understand these issues are slowly put together through the whole college football season, and probably finalized in early January at the latest. Thats well before the combines, and a lot of information is missed. Still, back when I would sit with the issues watching the draft pick by pick, they were usually in the ball park. That being said the job being done by the Sporting News the last five years or so (could be a bit longer even) has been getting progressively worse. Like their analysts have gone senile and are just making random picks. Like the issue was finished in October, and has been sitting in a box since then.

So anyway here are some of what their amazing analysts done this year that stuck out to me, the number is the overall ranking placed on the player in the draft according to talent, not where they should be picked.

RB- Ryan Williams (10), Mikel Leshoure (25), Mark Ingram (49)

OLB- Robert Quinn (5), Bruce Carter (23), Dontay Moch (65), Justin Houston (81), Akeen Ayers (86), Brooks Reed (150), Chris Carter (177)

CB- Prince Amukamara (26), Aaron Williams (89)

DE- J.J. Watt (51), Allen Bailey (67) (9 other DE ranked before them)

DT- Drake Nevis (27), Jarvis Jenkins (44),  Kenrick Ellis (59), Phil Taylor (62) 

S- Jerrard Turant (64),Rahim Moore (69), Robert Sands was not even featured in magazine, they wrote articles on 30 S total.

ILB- Casey Matthews (91) Martez Wilson (93)

And there pick at #30 for the Jets: Muhammad Wilkerson (and Marcus Gilchrist in the 3rd).

And this is just a small sampling, lol.

So Indy has released the often injured, 2007 Defensive Player of the Year, Bob Sanders. Sanders couldn't stay healthy for the last three season playing only  9 games, and the Colts couldn't afford to keep investing in the oft-injured safety. At his best he is the second best Safety in the game, at his worse he will make an excellent bridge partner for Kris Jenkins. Huge risk, huge rewards, and what will be the cost, what does everyone think.

The magic question is should we try to sign Bob Sanders?

Before the season started, looking at the schedule I have to say I marked this game down as an almost definite loss (along with Minnesota, and @Pittsburg, with a couple of other games as close/pick'ems). Looking at it now however, I think a lot of things changed (as they always do in the course of a season). Being at home, the way we are playing, along with GBs problems this year, I have to say looking at the game today, I really think we win. A win today would of course put us at 6-1 and in amazing shape for the playoffs.

I really think a win today would be a huge statement (similar in ways to our win against Denver). It would get a huge monkey off our back (again very similar to our win against Denver). The two obstacles to the "same ole Jets" pattern I feel I've seen in the past is losing to awful teams away when we just don't play like we should (which we didn't in Denver), and losing to good teams at home even though we have the momentum (which we can do today). With a win today I really feel we are the team to beat, this year, and make a huge statement. It may very well (along with the Pittsburg game) be the most defining game of our season. Whats your thoughts?

Ok so we have discussed at lengths the potential rookie players who may or may not make the roster this year, now it's time to vote on who could lose their job (or never really had one to begin with). This list is a mixture of player who could be cut/waived (Parenteau, Gillies, Konopka, Bruno), players who could be traded (Hunter, Comeau), players who just might be better off retiring (Martinek, DiP, Weight). It's not just for opening night, I'm talking the whole season, so keep that in mind if you choose Gillies,( who's probably waived at the start of the season, but resigned, and brought back at some point) or DiPietro and Martinek (who probably will be injured most of the season, but will play a game or two here and there).

Editor's note: This was the planned Sunday topic, but Judgegavel beat us to it with this FanPost. With the scrimmage and mini-camp complete (expect more coverage of that scrimmage at the SBN NY hub), let the napkin-sketching and debate continue...

Okay, with the Orange and Blue game today, and after we've taken a look at some of the prospects in mini camp (minus DeHaan). I wanted everyones thoughts on who is most likely to make the team this year. I included a ton of options in the poll, anyone you think I might have left out I didn't include please let me know and I will add. I also didn't include AMac, Kohn, or Reese even though they all may technically still be rookies (at least Kohn and Reese are), and are almost a lock to be spending a portion of the season with the big club.

I happen to think we are going to have at least three rookies, maybe four, make it out of camp (two forwards, two defense). 

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Just thought I'd throw it out there, based on level of performance/fit, not chemistry:

Forwards:

Matt Moulson- John Tavares- Nino Niederreiter

Kirill Khabanov-Josh Bailey-Kyle Okposo

Brock Nelson-Rob Schremp-Kirill Petrov

Matt Martin-Frans Nielson-Jesse Joensuu

Other notable possibilities: Rakhshani, Cizikas, Lee, Trivino, Gillies, Ullstrom, Clark, Gregorie

Defense:

Mark Steit- Travis Hamonic

Calvin DeHaan - Zbynek Michalek or Volchenkov

Jack Hillen - Andrew McDonald

Other notable possibilities: Donovan, Ness, Kessel, Katic, Kohn

Goalie:

Mikko Koskinen - Kevin Poulin

Other notibles: Anders Nilsson, Ridderwall?

Couple of notes, I think Khabanov could jump Moulson if he reaches potential, Goalie is really up in the air I think all three could wind up being #1s (reminds me of Buffalo a few years back when they had Miller, Biron, and Noronen). I obviously think Defense is where we need the big FA, being Michalek or Vochnkov in that order.

Thoughts?

Be realistic here, you can say selections, trades whatever.

Mine are:

5- Gudbranson

35- Kabanov

58-Ivan Telegin

Yes I can't believe I wen't with two russians, but they both represent huge sleeper picks for where they could be had. I know Kabanov is a huge risk, but we are due and I would rather see us take that one than Connolly at 5. Success and we filled both needs we have, with top 10 talent, failure and we had a bad second round pick, oh well.

my alternative or second scenario would be:

5- Nino

35- McIlrath (reach for availability I know)

58-Telegin

In that case I would hope we could drop down a spot or two and get another second rounder, but I wouldn't bank on it, I also wouldn't chance loosing Nino if we were going forward, so no more than a spot or two.

I'm not one to just simply buy into the pre-season magazine hype, and prediction. The season has to be played and a lot is going to happen between now and the playoffs. Its just nice to see actual experts call us the team to beat, and give a reality check to Dolphins fans. So heres what they predict for the AFC with the teams final grade (in parenthesis).  I'm actually more impressed by the Jets grade than record, they don't just think we are favorites to win the superbowl, they think we are far and away the best team in the AFC. 

East                               North                                  South                                 West

Jets(95)     13-3            Ravens(90)      11-5            Colts(91)     12-4             Chargers(91)    12-4

Pats(90)     10-6            Steelers(87)     10-6           Titans(89)    11-5             Chiefs(85)         9-7

Phins(79)    7-9             Bengals(81)      8-8             Texans(79)   7-9              Raiders(72)      5-11

Bills(65)      3-13          Browns (63)     2-14            Jags(72)       5-11             Broncos(68)     4-12

I'm not going to throw up all the NFC crap, but they have us beating the Cowboys in the Super Bowl, who they gave a 94 to, next three were Vikes (91), Falcons (90), Saints (90).

Thoughts?

We are third with 10-1 behind Indy and NO (both 9-1).

Arizona Cardinals 40/1 
Atlanta Falcons 28/1 
Baltimore Ravens 16/1 
Buffalo Bills 100/1 
Carolina Panthers 35/1 
Chicago Bears 35/1 
Cincinnati Bengals 30/1 
Cleveland Browns 80/1 
Dallas Cowboys 12/1 
Denver Broncos 50/1 
Detroit Lions 90/1 
Green Bay Packers 14/1 
Houston Texans 25/1 
Indianapolis Colts 9/1 
Jacksonville Jaguars 70/1 
Kansas City Chiefs 90/1 
Miami Dolphins 30/1 
Minnesota Vikings 14/1 
New England Patriots 12/1 
New Orleans Saints 9/1 
New York Giants 25/1 
New York Jets 10/1 
Oakland Raiders 80/1 
Philadelphia Eagles 18/1 
Pittsburgh Steelers 20/1 
San Diego Chargers 11/1 
San Francisco 49ers 30/1 
Seattle Seahawks 40/1 
St.Louis Rams 100/1 
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 100/1 
Tennessee Titans 28/1 
Washington Redskins 25/1

I think the title pretty much says it all. Latest mock drafts I've seen have us taking Gormley at 5, and I have to say that is my least favorite option. As you all may know from my posts I really think we need a top six forward over defense. That being said I understand Fowler and Grudbranson are special players, ones we really shouldn't pass on if there, even if we need a forward more. I really think Gormley is a step down from those two, and doesn't give us a prospect any better than Hamonic or DeHaan. I'm not entirely sold on Connolly considering the injury issues. My pick is definitely Nino here, I think he may be a very special player who has the potential to be as good if not better than Hall or Seguine, he simply dominated at the juniors, we've just only seen it for one season. What are your thoughts?

El Nino

Brandon Gormley

Brett Connolly