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by Mario Granata
HC Jim Caldwell had a very successful 2014 campaign, going 11-5 in a very tough NFC North. While his defense, under DC Teryl Austin ranked 3rd in points allowed (jumping 12 spots from 2013) there were some problems with the team that led to their first round exit against the Dallas Cowboys and their off-season poses some interesting questions as well. What do the Lions have to do to ensure success in 2015?
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by Mario Granata
The Pittsburgh Steelers, coming off an impressive 11-5 season in a highly competitive AFC North will have some tough decisions to make going into the 2015 season. Le’Veon Bell accounted for 2,215 yards and 11 TDs over 373 touches, and Antonio Brown’s league leading 129 receptions will be go to players, but with news of the quarterback’s happiness being called into question, and an aging secondary, as well as an uncomfortable salary cap number, the Steelers return to dominance might just be in rebuild mode. by Mario Granata
The hot button topic here in Buffalo (which is a question that has been burning for the past 15 years) is the quarterback position of the Bills. With many players falling by the wayside, the Bills look to 3rd year man EJ Manuel to guide the ship, or so it seems, for the 2015 season. Many people are not supportive of Manuel as the starter due to his injury riddled 2013 campaign or his minimal 4-game stretch last year but he could finally be the right guy at the right time. by Mario Granata
The Cincinnati Bengals seem to always be the team that could vie for a chance to make it to the dance, but 4 straight exits in the Wild Card round after posting 40 wins over that span, they have more disappointments than supporters. When you take into account that the Bengals haven’t won a playoff game since 1990 (a 41-14 victory over the Houston Oilers) changes have to be made for this team to take the next step. And of course, having 37.7 million in cap space doesn’t hurt either. by Paul Wanecski
The Philadelphia Eagles are a bit cap-strapped at the moment. With only $9.3 million in cap space entering 2015, the team will need to look at some veteran players and have a restructure-or-relocate conversation with them. Not a team known for holding onto players past prime years, the Eagles are in a bit of an interesting position, having two players on the wrong side of 30 taking up premium salary cap space. by Paul Wanecski and Mario Granata
The Buffalo Bills have plenty of money under the salary cap to handle needs in the free agent market this season, with nearly $29 million under an estimated $143 million cap. There are a lot of questions about what will transpire at One Bills Drive in 2015 but the ultimate questions have a few answers. by Paul Wanecski
It should come as no surprise that the Kansas City Chiefs started the New Year by releasing two wide receivers after having 0 touchdown completions to that position all season. The Chiefs are also looking at less than $4 million in salary cap space for 2015, so they have plenty of work to do freeing up enough money to sign a draft class, address free agency and build a competitive roster at the same time. by Paul Wanecski
For the first time in recent memory, the San Diego Chargers actually have some salary cap space. Estimating $22 million against what projects to be $143 million cap, the time has finally come in San Diego to move on from the stop-gap players they have been forced to sign or retain the past 4 years. by Paul Wanecski
Any time a team can go from having the first overall selection and improve their record as quickly as the Houston Texans, one would think they were on the verge of a breakthrough. Alas, they are much further from the playoffs than their record indicates. They also on have a projected $8.9 million in salary cap space to work with. by Mario Granata
Coming off an 8-8 season, the 49ers cleaned house when it comes to the coaching staff, and the fact that they are a mere 1.3 million under the current cap, expect the dismantling of the 49ers to continue with the players as well. New Head Coach Jim Tomsula, OC Geep Chryst and DC Eric Mangini are going to have a tall task, and some difficult decisions to make as the Niners go into the 2015 season. Signing some big name free agents is a virtual impossibility at this point, as the team has some notable current ones that could be playing elsewhere. Jim Harbaugh took off for the Big House and left the 49ers in the outhouse. |
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