Jets wide receiver Eric Decker thinks that Tom Brady’s four-game suspension to start the 2016 season means that the AFC East is up for grabs. One look at New England’s first four games and you might be inclined to agree.
Sorry Eric Decker, Tom Brady’s suspension doesn’t mean the AFC East is ‘up for grabs’
Remember, Las Vegas actually gave the Patriots better odds to win the Super Bowl after Brady’s suspension was reinstated.
The Patriots open the season on the road against the Arizona Cardinals, a Super Bowl favorite. After that, they’re at home for three games against the Dolphins, Texans and Bills. Out of those three, the Texans look like the toughest matchup. The Bills are a much better team than they’ve been in a while, but they haven’t had much success at Foxboro. Buffalo beat the Patriots there in 2014, but it was a Week 17 game. You have to go all the way back to 2000 for the last time Buffalo won there.
A 2-2 record is a reasonable expectation for the first month of the season and not the kind of hole a team can’t dig its way out of.
Vegas is dismissing Decker entirely. New England’s odds to win Super Bowl LI went from 15/2 to 7/1 AFTER Brady’s suspension was reinstated. The next closest in the AFC East are the Jets at 40/1.
RAMSEY INJURY
Jalen Ramsey suffers meniscus tear in practice. The Jaguars' first-round pick tore some meniscus in his knee at mini camp. It's the second year in a row that Jacksonville's seen its top pick injured in spring practices -- Dante Fowler, Jr. tore his ACL in minicamp last year. Vegas has the Jaguars with an over/under of 7.5 wins. That could change once we know more about Ramsey's status.
WHAT A CATCH!
Watch DeAndre Hopkins make an incredible catch at practice. Odell who?
GURLEY GONE
The how and why of Todd Gurley’s top five runs. Todd Gurley marked the return of high level running backs entering the league. Gurley is more than just a flashy athlete, though. There is nuance to his game. His top five runs highlight both his athleticism and his great feel for the game.
VIVA LAS VEGAS
The NFL seems intent on using Las Vegas as its next threat to land publicly funded stadiums. With Los Angeles now largely off the table, the NFL suddenly appears open to a team moving to the Sin City.
SILICON VALLEY’S HARDEST HITTER
Retired 49ers LB Patrick Willis is now just another Silicon Valley tech geek. The former Pro Bowl linebacker has found a new career.
UNDERRATED WIDE RECEIVER
Stop underrating Jordan Matthews. The people in your fantasy league probably aren’t underrating Jordan Matthews after his 997-yard, eight-touchdown sophomore season last year, but he’s still not exactly a household name. If the Eagles can finally get some decent quarterback performance, this might be his year.
BRADFORD THE ADULT
Sam Bradford is willing to mentor Carson Wentz. Isn’t that nice of him. I’m sure Bradford has plenty to teach the youngster about having a perfectly forgettable NFL career.
HATED PLAYERS
The most hated players in the NFL. Tom Brady is No. 5. Ndamukong Suh is No. 3.
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