Dolphins' Long 'ready to go' after injury-plagued year

BY SEAN DONOVAN

Dolphins left tackle Jake Long is feeling healthy and ready to return to his All-Pro form.

“I feel great,” Long said in an interview with Jesse Agler of The Finsiders. “This is the healthiest I’ve felt in a long time. All healed up, working out 100 percent, ready to go.”

The perennial Pro Bowler battled knee and biceps injuries in 2011 and missed games for the first time since being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft.

2012 will be a critical year for Long's relationship with the Dolphins. It's the final year of his rookie contract, and the two sides either need to work out an extension or prepare for a free agency departure.

When Long signed his rookie deal, it made him the highest-paid lineman in the league. He will likely look to get that distinction back and exceed the seven-year, $84 million deal that Cleveland's Joe Thomas signed last year.

Sanchez: Working with Tebow's 'been good for me'

Photo: Ed Yourdon, Flickr 

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Mark Sanchez took a beating from pass rushers last season. Tim Tebow is helping Sanchez remedy that -- and not by taking his job or playing offensive line... at least yet.

Sanchez, who was sacked 39 times last season, has enjoyed his first handful of workouts with Tebow, the Jets' new backup quarterback, telling fans at an appearance Thursday that having the 6-foot-3, 236-pound Tebow pushing him has been beneficial.

"From a competitor standpoint, he's great," Sanchez said, according to the New York Post. "He's what you want in an offseason program -- working hard, competing with the guy in the weight room. This is a big, strong guy, so it's good for me.

"That's been one of my goals this offseason -- putting on a little more muscle mass. I've taken a beating during the season. It's been a good transition and Tim's been great."

While much-improved, Bills' D not getting younger

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

As the saying goes, with age comes wisdom. For defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt's new 4-3 scheme, however, age could spell worry for the Bills' defense.

Buffalo gave its 'D' a huge shot in the arm with the signings of linemen Mark Anderson and Mario Williams early in free agency. Anderson amassed 10 sacks last year, including two forced fumbles. Williams, in only five games, tallied five sacks and a forced fumble of his own.

Sacks are something the Bills need in 2012, finishing near the bottom of the league last year in that department. Additionally, Buffalo may need to start looking for some young backups for its aging defensive lineup.

As it stands now, the Bills have arguably the best defensive line in the AFC, consisting of Williams, Anderson, Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus. Out of the four, however, Dareus is the only one under 27. In fact, Dareus, safety Jairus Byrd and linebacker Kelvin Sheppard are the only tenative starters under 27. The other two projected linebackers, Nick Barnett and Kirk Morrison, are 31 and 30, respectively. The defensive backfield includes Terrence McGee, Drayton Florence and George Wilson, who will all be 31 this year. Safety Bryan Scott will also be 31.

Buffalo's older starters were productive last season. Wilson was fifth in the AFC in combined tackles among defensive backs and fifth in interceptions. Barnett was second among linebackers in interceptions in the AFC behind the Jets' David Harris. He also finished fourth in combined tackles and sixth in pass deflections.

Obviously, the starting roster is subject to change prior to opening day, especially given what happens in the draft and and in preseason workouts. Many of the younger players such as Torell Troup and Justin Rogers have shown promise, but many of the other next-in-line guys, namely Chris Kelsay (who will see a lot of time) and Dwan Edwards, are aging as well, or inconsistent due to injury (Shawne Merriman).

It can only help the cause that the Bills will face all eight of the eight worst-ranked offenses from 2011 this season, and that all four teams that gave up at least 50 sacks in '11 are on the Bills' schedule this year.

Buffalo seems likely to improve at the offensive line position and at wide receiver in the early rounds of the draft, but the real surprise may be what it decides to do with the rest of its picks. The Bills have already proven they make the most of their late-round picks, and if it can add a couple of instant starters to its veteran crew, Buffalo may boast a much more dangerous defense than it gets credit for.

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Dolphins' Wake shows to workouts, awaits new deal

BY SEAN DONOVAN

Dolphins star pass rusher Cameron Wake has decided to show up to Miami's voluntary offseason workouts, foregoing a potentially lengthy contract hold out, according to the Miami Herald.

The two sides have stated their desire to work out a deal during the offseason.

Wake seeks a deal that will pay him much more than the $615,000 that his current one will this season, as players of his production level are getting salaries ten times that in today's NFL.

"Cameron felt like he had to go in to speak with Joe Philbin face to face, man to man, out of respect to him as a new coach," Wake's agent said, according to the Miami Herald. "They spoke, and Cameron decided to work with his teammates during this voluntary period, while I work on the business side of things with the Dolphins."

Patriots host free agent RBs Addai, Grant, Hightower

Photo: Brad J Ward, Flickr 

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Earlier in the offseason, the Patriots added weapons for their passing attack and cogs for their offensive line. This week, New England did its due diligence regarding its offensive backfield.

The Patriots hosted free agent running backs Ryan Grant and Tim Hightower, according to ESPN's Adan Schefter, and Joseph Addai, according to Shalise Manza Young of the Boston Globe.

New England looks to add at least one veteran tailback to fill the void BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who recently signed with the Bengals, and Kevin Faulk, who is no longer under contact, left.

Report: Dolphins' Misi pleads not guilty to 3 charges

BY SEAN DONOVAN

Dolphins linebacker Koa Misi has pleaded not guilty to three felony charges, according to the Santa Barbara Independent. The charges stemmed from an April 2011 incident in which Misi allegedly punched through a door and assaulted a man in Isla Vista, California, a town near Santa Barbara.

Misi, 25, was charged with residential burglary, assault with serious injury, and dissuading a witness.

The former Utah standout is entering his third year with the Dolphins, after being drafted in the second round of the 2010 draft. Misi was drafted as a pass rushing outside linebacker but has battled injury and not produced to expectations. Miami has stated that they may try Misi in a some new roles as first-year defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle installs his defense, which is expected to be a hybrid of the 3-4 and 4-3.

Jets not ruling out Braylon, WR clicked with Sanchez

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum told reporters Thursday that Gang Green has not ruled out a reunion with Braylon Edwards, who was a Jet for most of 2009 and all of 2010.

Edwards and current Jets receiver Santonio Holmes were both free agents following the 2010 season, and New York re-signed Holmes while Edwards signed a one-year deal with the 49ers.

The seventh-year wideout caught 53 passes and seven touchdowns from Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez in 2010, recording a career-high 17.1 yards-per-catch average.

Edwards, who is coming off a knee injury, is an above-average downfield run-blocker and has the size and physicality to fight for tough catches, something neither Plaxico Burress or Holmes were willing to do in 2011.

Nix: Hairston can start, but Bills need more tackles

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Bills general manager Buddy Nix said it best: "We need tackles."

Nix addressed Buffalo's offensive tackle situation at the team's pre-draft luncheon Wednesday, explaining that while he believes Chris Hairston, who stepped in to start at left tackle the second half of the 2011 season because of injuries, is a capable protector, the Bills need to deepen their offensive line corps.

"I’m going to make this clear, we think Chris Hairston can play left tackle for us and win," Nix said. "... we run a lot of empty sets with five blockers, if they bring six (quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick) better get it out quick or he’s going to get hit in the mouth.

"In this offense he’s got to get it out quick. But Chris Hairston, he may not be the prettiest foot athlete but he’s got so much length that he can protect the back side. We feel like he can do that."

Pats' Light reportedly retiring, yet to declare publicly

Photo: Jack Newton, Flickr 

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Patriots offensive tackle Matt Light isn't showing his hand on whether he'll retire, but a source tells ProFootballTalk that Light has already decided to hang up the cleats.

Light, 33, has started on the left end of New England's offensive line for the past decade.

"No, not really. Although my wife has a pretty good idea on what is going to happen with me," Light told reporters Wednesday at a charity event when asked if he has a timetable for his decision, according to ESPN Boston. "She keeps me pretty busy."

New England recently re-signed two of its interior linemen in Dan Connolly and Dan Koppen, not to mention it still has guard Logan Mankins and recently-signed guard Robert Gallery to join tackles Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer on a crowded offensive line. Also, Brian Waters is still under contract for a year, though he's on the cusp of retiring, as well.

Rex: Jets/Pats on Thanksgiving 'going to be a beauty'

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Since Jets coach Rex Ryan took over Gang Green in 2009, New York's annual pair of bouts with the Patriots has been among the most entertaining divisional rivalries in the NFL.

This year, the teams will square off on Thanksgiving night.

“That one’s going to be a beauty, there’s no doubt,” Ryan told reporters Tuesday night, according to the New York Daily News. “Our fans will be ready to roll."

"... It’s going to be a great challenge for us."

The Patriots lead the teams' regular-season head-to-head series over the last three years by a 4-2 margin, but the Jets beat New England in Foxboro in the teams' lone playoff meeting during that span.