SPRING CLEANING

By Mike Rifkin

We are about two weeks away from teams being able to legally tamper with free agents. Entering last Monday the Miami Dolphins were about 16 million dollars over the cap, well they changed that on Monday and at the same time got younger.

Last Monday the Dolphins released wide receiver Tyreek Hill, EDGE rusher Bradley Chubb, Guard James Daniels (some prefer his brother Jack), and Receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. These four cuts saved first year GM Jon-Eric Sullivan over 56 Million dollars. Now every Dolphin fan will know what comes next and that is the potential cut of Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. But these cuts could help the Dolphins pay down a trade of the quarterback. 

The Dolphins needed to do this, after being the talk of the league for Mike McDaniel’s first two seasons, the team took a step back the last two and missed the playoffs. But they created a lot of narratives in the McDaniel era including winning big games and how they play in a colder environment. The big thing being created here by the new Brass in Miami is they’re setting up their own identity, and while it could be a long 2026, their eyes could look at who could stand out for 2027. But if you look ahead to the 2027 draft Quarterbacks who the Dolphins could draft include Arch Manning, Dante Moore, and Julian Sayin. 

Right now also is a good time for a rebuild to in Miami. The Bills are a premier team in the NFL and the Patriots are coming off a Super Bowl appearance, and the depth of the conference is something the Dolphins can’t get passed in one season. So the fans will have to let the new staff evaluate and go from there.

PICKENS WILL STAY IN DALLAS

BY MARK HALPERN

        George Pickens is coming off a sensational season. In his first season in the Lone Star State Pickens had 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns, all of which were top 10 in the NFL. Jerry Jones was asked about Pickens future and said “We are working on a long-term deal but have a few contracts to restructure first (DAK, LAMB, Tyler Smith.)” This would be opening up a huge amount of room not only to sign Pickens but have a chance of revamping certain positions. 

    Prior to signing Pickens to a long term deal, they are going to use the Franchise Tag, which gives them a few months to iron something out. If no deal between Dallas and Pickens is finalized then the Tag will be used and Pickens will get the 28 million for the season. Pickens has found a very comfortable home playing opposite Cee Dee Lamb and expect to see them playing together for a long time to come.

CHICAGO BEARS NOW INDIANA BEARS

BY MARK HALPERN AND MIKE RIFKIN

     Over the past decade or so we have heard rumors of teams leaving their current stadium and looking for better venues, even if that means playing in a different state. If you are familiar with the NFL you already know this isn’t something new. The New York Giants and The New York Jets both play their home games at MetLife Stadium but in East Rutherford, New Jersey. I mean let’s be honest you’re not going to build a Football field in the middle of NYC or any major city anytime soon.

     Soldier field (One of the most famous gridirons left) is falling apart and needs upgrades (not as bad as RFK Stadium) all around and underneath the Stadium itself. The Stadium Proposal is by Wolf Lake which has a lot of land to give in The Hoosier state but, still would have to pass a substantial funding bill that will probably be asked to split between the State and Ownership. The proposed site is a 25-mile drive from the current spot of soldier field is making it a short jaunt (this is about the same difference for NY fans when visiting a NYG or NYJ game) but, the fans will have a lot to say about this and are currently making their voices heard.

   There is NO current deal to move the Bears but, this is the first real opportunity to come their way over the time they have been searching. There are a ton of things that will need to happen before a deal is struck and like the Jets and Giants they will always be The Chicago Bears (who don’t play in Chicago)

If I lived in the state of Illinois this would tick me off. The Bears have been at Soldier Field forever, and they shouldn’t have their team taken from them. I’m not sure but could they give it renovations like Wrigley Field has gotten?

MAXX CROSBY TRADE DESTINATIONS

BY MIKE RIFKIN

According to NFL insider Jay Glazer Raiders star EDGE rusher Maxx Crosby is likely done with the team. With the Raiders reportedly set to hire Klint Kubiak as the coach and draft Indiana Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Raiders are starting over again. In 15 games this past season Crosby had 10 sacks. In his career Crosby has 69.5 sacks. Let’s take a look at some teams who should and could make the call for the star edge rusher.

COWBOYS : Dallas tried to reshape their defense after trading Micah Parsons last summer. As good as the Dallas offense was, the defense was awful to start the season, they were near the bottom with 35 sacks. Putting Crosby next to Quinnen Williams could help the Cowboys on the defensive side of the ball. They may have to dig into some of that 2027 draft capital to do it.

JETS : If there’s any team with enough draft capital to pull this off it’d be the Jets. The Jets have  four picks in the first 44 in the 2026 draft and have more ammo in 2027. The Jets were second to the bottom in sacks this past season. And let’s be honest the Jet fan needs something right now, because Florham Park is a mess.

BILLS –  The Bills were hoping for a big year out of Joey Bosa and he was fine with five sacks in 15 games, but the Bills only finished with 36 sacks. The Bills also need to win in this window of Josh Allen being as good as he is, and if Brandon Beane makes this happen people will understand why he stayed. 

49ERS –  The Niners finished last in the league in sacks and that was primarily due to injury. Even with all the injuries the Niners won a playoff game. They’re another one of these win now teams. Could they package a deal around Brandon Aiyuk and a pick to get a deal done. 

LIONS : The Lions went from one of the best stories in football to out of the playoffs entirely. They were fourth in the league in sacks, but imagine Aidan Hutchinson and Crosby together. The NFC North will continue to be a fight and if the Lions can unleash that kind of duo, they’ll be back on the prowl. 

BENGALS – Let’s start with the fact that Bengal defense has been horrendous the past few seasons. This year didn’t help when Joe Burrow went down with injury, but the Bengals need a defensive splash. Trey Hendrickson will be out as a free agent, maybe the Bengals can use a few picks to get themselves another elite pass rusher. Because like the Bills need to win now, so do the Bengals and Zac Taylor might be on the hottest seat in the league entering next season. 

Yes, every team can use Maxx Crosby’s services, but few could afford the financial hit plus the loss of draft capital. In my opinion the team’s listed above could use the splash as well as have a massive need for his services.

PATRIOT GAMES

BY MIKE RIFKIN

This is a special week for the New England Patriots, as they appear in their first Super Bowl post Tom Brady. They could also celebrate a new hall of famer as former Kicker Adam Vinatieri is a finalist. 

Two names not making it to Canton in 2026 are former Coach Bill Belichick and Owner Robert Kraft. They’re not in at least for this year for their actions for “Spygate” and “Deflategate”. In 2028 when he is first eligible will Tom Brady be given the same consequence? Belichick has the second most wins all-time and has eight Super Bowl rings (6 as HC, 2 AS DC). The six he won with the Patriots are all with Kraft as the owner. 

But, will Brady get special treatment in a few years or will he have to wait? This is the Pro Football Hall Of Fame and to not have the greatest coach in or the greatest Quarterback of all-time get in on the first ballot would just be ridiculous. These three men will always be tied at the hip of being the faces of the NFL dynasty of the 2000’s. But the voters put themselves in a interesting position, if they vote in Brady on the first ballot, people will ask why wasn’t Bill? But if they don’t put in Brady on the first ballot people will ask how could they possibly do that? 

If this is a punishment for spygate and deflategate, it’s not the Hall’s job to hand out the punishment. Or is this why Brady got into broadcasting, trying to smooth out relationships to ensure himself he gets in on the first ballot? There will be someone out there asking does getting in on the first ballot matter? In my opinion it matters, it’s cool to witness especially when it is a player or coach you grew up watching.

BACK TO SCHOOL

BY MIKE RIFKIN

Florida men’s basketball team handled Alabama on Sunday 100-77. The Gator student section came as prepared as the team did. The Gator faithful would chant “G-League dropout” at Alabama Center Charles Bediako. Bediako, is currently suing the NCAA to get back his eligibility, despite declaring for the NBA Draft. This season Bediako was averaging 5.2 points per game along with 5.1 rebounds for the Motor City Cruise. Bediako was in his third G-league season also playing for Austin and Grand Rapids.

Bediako’s lawsuit has opened the door for Amari Bailey to try to do the same thing. Bailey, a UCLA standout was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in 2023 and played in 10 games for them. He is now seeking to get back to UCLA after a stint in the G-League. 

The NCAA and NBA do have a deal where a player can declare for the draft, and then they can withdraw their name for another year of school. But to declare for the draft and actually play in the G-league and then decide to go back because you got more of an opportunity in college is wrong. Either these guys had bad advice or they weren’t ready, and if that is the case than they should have gone back to school. I loathe a lot of decisions made by the NCAA, but there is no reason these guys should be able to come back. In the NHL and MLB once a player signs an ELC (entry level contract) their college eligibility (playing sports) is over. Just because these guys are unhappy with where they are at after college, doesn’t mean they should go back. Both Bailey and Bediako were one and done meaning they played their Freshman season and then declared for the draft. 

Now, I have never been a fan of the one and done rule personally. I have always felt an individual should play two seasons of college ball before turning pro. I also felt with NIL becoming a big thing in college, there was a chance to see fewer one and done’s. Look, I am not the biggest fan of the NCAA, but these guys gave up their eligibility after declaring for the draft. Had they withdrawn from the process fine, but they’ve actually played a professional ball game, and have given up their eligibility and just because they don’t like where they are doesn’t mean that they should go back to school.

SAME OLD, SAME OLD

BY MIKE RIFKIN

The Pittsburgh Steelers are the latest team to hire a new coach. The team hired former Packer and Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy to be the new coach, replacing Mike Tomlin after 19 seasons. McCarthy, a Pittsburgh native (grew up in the suburbs) last coached for the Dallas Cowboys in 2024. McCarthy has a career record of 174-112-2 with the Cowboys and Packers. There are some people who will love this hire and there are others who don’t, like me.

So, you ask why would I not like this hire? There’s a few reasons, let’s start with the fact that the Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since beating the Chiefs in 2016, and their last few appearances they have no showed. The Texans game this season was competitive, but CJ Stroud kept them in that. The Steelers entered this season as the second oldest team in Football (Washington) and after Tomlin left it felt like this could be a restart for the Steelers. 

Another reason I don’t love this hire is Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers played ok this season, but he is also 42 years old and leaving the door open for him is a mistake. But that would be kicking the Quarterback decision further down the road, when it should be addressed now. They could turn to Will Howard, who didn’t take a snap this season, but I get the feeling that is far fetched. The Steelers need to address the Quarterback situation like it actually matters, because going through the AFC in 2026 will be difficult. The Patriots are going to the Super Bowl, and teams like the Bills, Chargers, Broncos will all be back. And oh yeah in their own division they still will have to deal with Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow, oh and some guy named Patrick Mahomes will be back. The Steelers cannot bandaid the quarterback position again. 

Like I said earlier the Steelers were the second oldest team in football, and after Tomlin left it felt like they could use a reset. Think of the trade offers they could get for TJ Watt, DK Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey, etc… the Steelers went all in with Rodgers it didn’t work, now they’re bringing in a coach where it feels the same it’s Super Bowl or Bust. Quite frankly when you look at the AFC I just don’t think the Steelers are at the top and they had an opportunity to reset and they refused. Now that won’t be McCarthy’s fault, but he will be the one who pays.

STEARNS : THE GOOD GUY ONCE AGAIN

BY MARK HALPERN

To quote the great Axl Rose “ All you need is just a little patience”. And truth be told the same could be said for Mets fans because this winter has been a tail of two different emotions.  They saw homegrown and fan favorites leave. Nimmo traded to Rangers, Alonso signed with Baltimore, Diaz went to the freaking Dodgers and traded McNeil to the A’s. Before Mets fans really knew what was happening the team they grew to love was dismantled.

      We all know that David Stearns is one of the best general managers in the game. Fans have emotions and were angry at Stearns for tearing down the core of the Mets. There is no issue with money with Steve Cohen behind the desk, but you can’t spend just to spend. So, Stearns started making moves, he went out and got Jorge Polanco from Seattle,  a solid bat and will most likely DH. Next was Toronto super utility and superstar Bo Bichette, Stearns then trades Luis Angel Acuna and RP to get Luis Robert, who has one of the best gloves in the game but his bat has been on vacation for the last two years. Being on the final year of his deal I wouldn’t  be surprised for career numbers also a change of scenery will help him. Then last night  the Mets got their ace in a trade with the Brewers (Stearns old back yard) and traded two coveted prospects in Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams. Freddy Peralta will now lead this rotation and be a huge mentor to Nolan McLean who will one day be the Mets ace.

    IN the beginning Mets fans wanted his head on plate for letting the Polar Bear and Edwin Diaz go. Over the last week the fans have changed their opinion on Stearns.I will be the first to say I was pissed and angry at Stearns. However, nothing I could do but sit back and bitch about here and I did. Stearns, I knew was going to do something but, we were all kind of like mushrooms in the dark. I do not believe he is done as Left Field, First Base (I’d check in on Rhys Hoskins as Mike and I have discussed) and I like this rotation but I would also like to know what’s going on with Zac Gallen. 

NEW LOOK METS

BY MARK HALPERN AND MIKE RIFKIN

The Mets might have been hibernating through the first month or so of the offseason, even though they added pieces that would help, most fans ourselves included were upset at the fact that Edwin Diaz, Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso were no longer to be with the club. But things have changed over the last week. They really have turned things around after Kyle Tucker spurned them for the Dodgers. First they signed Bo Bichette, and now have added their Centerfielder and potential ace. 

          Luis Robert is the answer to the Mets Centerfield issues. Robert is one of the best defenders in baseball but his bat has taken a huge dive over the last two years. I truly think part of that is playing for the White Sox, so a change of scenery might benefit him. The Mets traded Second Baseman Luis Angel Acuna and pitcher Truman Pauly. This is a great deal by Stearns, the Mets are stocked with infielders and one had to go. Acuna really never got a full chance to play for the Mets. His fielding and speed are his advantages but, his bat hasn’t come around yet which kind of made him expendable. I hope Acuna goes on to a good career on a team that should give him playing time.

      The Mets now have two of the three outfield positions set with Robert in Center and Soto in Right. LF is a mystery that needs to be solved. I have no problem in giving a rookie like Carson Benge a shot during spring training but, I think it would be advantageous for the Mets to re sign Starling Marte as the fourth and you can keep Taylor for PR/PH duties. 

    With Cody Bellinger re-signing with the Yankees that takes the biggest 1B off the market. The Mets need a first baseman and I would like to check in on the health of someone like Rhys Hoskins or maybe look at Luis Arraez for the First Baseman. Arraez isn’t someone who is going to give you Pete like numbers. However, not to sugar coat it “He gets on base and makes a hell of a lot less than Alonso.” It’s an option to look in on. I am not fully trusted in the idea of Baty or Vientos to man first. When you look at Hoskins, he is someone who can hit 25 plus homers and plays a solid first base.

    This lineup is coming together rather nicely. Mets fans might still be sour but, with what Stearns has done hopefully will turn those frowns upside down.

One night after striking the Robert deal, David Stearns struck again. All Met fans were waiting for the starting rotation to get an upgrade, and Stearns had something brewing. The Mets GM went to his old employer and acquired Freddy Peralta and Tobias Meyers for top prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat. Peralta went 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA in 176 ⅔ innings. Along with Dylan Cease, Peralta has 200 strikeouts over the last three seasons. The downside to Peralta is he is in the last season of his contract, but if he navigates New York they could give him an extension. But after a rough start to the winter, David Stearns is making his move now.

WELCOME TO BO YORK 

BY MARK HALPERN

The New York Mets made a massive signing last week and it was free agent Bo Bichette, (yes, the son of Dante) who will come to New York. Bo signed a 3 year $126Million contract. The Mets pivoted to Bichette after finding out Kyle Tucker was going to be a Dodger.

    Over his first six years Bichette has improved his game on all fronts. In 2021 Bichette led the league with 2 errors, this year he got it down to eight. His flexibility to play 3B, SS and 2B will be a crucial dynamic for the Mets. The Mets announced Bichette will play third base, but his flexibility could help if Francisco Lindor or Marcus Siemien need a day off or get hurt.

   Bichette has been designated to play 3b, which leaves a few questions one of them being what will be in store for the likes of Brett Baty and Mark Vientos. According to Will Sammon of the Athletic, Baty will take on a utility man role, replacing Jeff McNeil. But does that maybe make a Ronny Mauricio expendable? A lot of roster flexibility for David Stearns.

   After losing the likes of Kyle Tucker to the Dodgers of all teams and the Yankees are currently at a breaking point with Bellinger, I feel the Mets still could make two huge moves to accompany this latest move. I’m hoping they get Bellinger to play first, re-sign Marte to round out the outfield and get Zac Gallen and Framber Valdez for the rotation.    What the Mets will be this year is an enigma because there are still a few gaps that need to be addressed. With only a few weeks until Pitchers and Catchers report I expect the Mets to be busy filling their rotation and diamond arrangements so we can make better forecasts on what this season will be.