Globale News » up Casey Coleman from Triple-A Omaha

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS Reason for Pessimism: When you lose two of the best tight ends in football, you are not going to replace them in one year. How can New England lead the league again in points (34 per game) and yards (427.9 per game) and improve the secondary (29th in pass defence)? Its not going to happen. There are high expectations for Danny Amendola, but he has only played 12 games in the last two years so durability is an issue. Do they really expect Aaron Dobson (2nd round) and Josh Boyce (4th round) to have instant success as receivers? Tom Brady has said he wants to play well into his 40s and that is great, but first you have to get through the natural regression of being in your mid-30s. Reason for Optimism: In the last five years, the Patriots have won 11, 10, 14, 13 and 12 regular season games. They are masters at overcoming adversity. Tom Brady has thrown a touchdown pass in 48 straight regular season games -- only six behind the record set by Drew Brees. He will make the receivers look good -- even the rookies. Also, 15 of 16 games for New England are on the East Coast. Thats a good travel schedule. Reality: In an odd way, this may be a rejuvenation year for New England and specifically Brady and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. It is a new challenge to develop new talent that will rise to the surface as the season progresses. Nobody ran more plays than the Patriots did last year. They can do it again this year. Prediction: First in the AFC East. MIAMI DOLPHINS Reason for Pessimism: I have a theory about football. I think that it is easier and more effective to build a winner by collecting a group of good football players as opposed to trying to overspend on major talent at key positions. My theory is to be tested in Miami, as nobody spent money on free agency like the Dolphins did last year. On paper this is an outstanding team, but will they play well together and surpass the Patriots for dominance in the division? We saw this story last year with the Buffalo Bills as they opened the bank to improve the defensive line and finished the 2012 season 31st against the run. Still, the additions of Mike Wallace, Darnell Ellerbe, and Brent Grimes are impressive, but how it all meshes is still to be proven. And not having Jake Long at left tackle is a void and young Jonathon Martin is a project as a replacement. Reason for optimism: Ryan Tannehill is for real. The Dolphins have been searching for the next Dan Marino since the day he retired, and Tannehill is the best possibility in many years. Also, the Dolphins have not had a better 3rd down pass rush since the days of the "Killer Bees" of the ‘80s. Cam Wake is proven and may be the most explosive athlete as a defensive end in football. And Dion Jordan has the athletic gifts to be a taller version of Cam Wake. Third down is the most critical down in football and success depends on the quarterback and the pass rush -- the Dolphins have both. Reality: Miami has closed the gap of talent between themselves and New England, but until a Joe Philbin team can beat a Bill Belichick team twice in one year, you have to favour the Pats. I still look at Miami as a playoff team, but not necessarily a division winner. Prediction: 2nd in the AFC East. BUFFALO BILLS Reason for Pessimism: It has been 13 seasons since the Buffalo Bills have made the playoffs -- 13. That is a longer absence that any other team, and only Oakland and Cleveland are close with 10. Thats a stark reality. Last year they were 31st against the run and 30th on third down defence. It is unrealistic to think that will improve so dramatically as to become a top 10 defence in one season. Yes, the do have a new coordinator in Mike Pettine -- formally of the Jets -- but he has them switching to a 3-4 defence. Do they have the type of talent play that scheme? Year 14 without playoff is a real possibility. Reason for Optimism: E.J. Manuel has all the physical skills to be a very good quarterback. Coming from Florida State, he knows how to handle pressure and good competition. C.J. Spiller could be the next Thurman Thomas . He averaged 6.0 yards per carry and is a complete back. And finally, Doug Marrone seems like a good fit. Yes, he coming to the pros from Syracuse University, but from 2006 to 2008 he was with the Saints and Sean Payton. He is a pro coach that tried college, not a college coach trying the pro game. Reality: This is a 3rd place team. Theres too much change in one year and no guarantee that an expensive defensive line will play like the Cincinnati Bengals. I thought the Bills drafted well, especially getting 2nd round pick Robert Woods of USC to compliment Stevie Johnson. But unless Manuel becomes the next Colin Kaepernick, this is a rebuilding year again in Buffalo. Prediction: 3rd in AFC East. NEW YORK JETS Reason for Pessimism: Drama, drama and more drama. The New York Jets have evolved into a walking, talking soap opera more than a well-run, efficient football team. Mark Sanchez does not look confident and expecting rookie Geno Smith to be the next RG3 or Andrew Luck is unrealistic. Also Dee Milliner has to be the next Derrell Revis, but he wont be. In the month of October, the Jets play at Atlanta , Pittsburgh, New England, at Cincinnati and New Orleans. By then we will know who the quarterback is for 2013, but that is an insurmountable challenge. With limited wide receiver depth and talent, this season depends on "ground and pound" but every defence in the NFL knows it. Six players left in free agency -- their top running back and two safeties are no longer Jets. It is a re-building time in New York. Reason for Optimism: Rex Ryan is in the last year of his contract. If Geno Smith beats out Mark Sanchez, then the Jets have a salary cap problem. With Ryan and Sanchez having a sense of urgency to stay in the NFL with this organization, you would think they should produce results. In some ways it is a fresh start with Marty Mornhinweg as the new offensive coordinator and Dennis Thurman on defense. If Chris Ivory has a great year at running back, so do the Jets. They must master a running attack like they did in 2009 and 2010 when they went to the AFC championship game. Ivory seems capable. Reality: Eleven players, all starters or significant contributors, left the Jets for various reasons. One may be that they did not believe the team would turn the corner in any tangible way. That was probably good thinking. The window of opportunity has closed for the Jets, Jets, Jets. Prediction: 4th in the AFC East. Nike Air Max 90 Dames Uitverkoop . Gorges is believed to have suffered the injury while blocking a shot with a hand during Montreals win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. The Canadiens added to their defensive depth this week by acquiring veteran Mike Weaver from the Florida Panthers. Nike Air Max 720 Goedkoop .J. -- Pete Carroll said it was the suspension of linebacker Bruce Irvin last spring that finally got the attention of the rest of the Seattle Seahawks that they needed to be taking their commitment to the team more seriously. http://www.airmaxkopennederland.com/. "Theyve been good against everybody," he said. Carlos Gomez launched a three-run homer and Matt Garza battled into the seventh inning for his first win in four starts to help the Brewers continue their mastery of the Rockies with a 7-4 victory Saturday. Air Max 1 Goedkoop .Y. - Alex Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs didnt flinch in the face of adversity. Nike Air Max Outlet Nederland . Canada Day is here and with it comes Free Agent Frenzy as the NHLs 30 teams storm out of the gate for signing season.MINNEAPOLIS -- Jason Vargas threw seven scoreless innings, Raul Ibanez homered in his second game for Kansas City and the Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 4-0 Wednesday. Vargas (8-3) allowed four singles and two walks while striking out five, allowing only two runners from a diluted Twins lineup to reach second base. Mike Moustakas and Jarrod Dyson hit RBI singles in the second inning against Kevin Correia (4-10), and that was all Vargas needed. With Joe Mauer missing, placed on the disabled list before the game because of a strained muscle on his right side, the Twins didnt cause Vargas any trouble. They were shut out for the sixth time this season and lost for the seventh time in their last nine games. The 42-year-old Ibanez signed Monday with the Royals, the team that first gave him a regular spot in the lineup all the way back in 2001. He had two hits and two runs in this game, including the solo shot to right field in the eighth. Ibanez was released by the Los Angeles Angels last month. Eric Hosmer, who walked three times, added an RBI single in the ninth inning for insurance. With rookie Yordano Ventura and now Danny Duffy joining the veteran trio of Vargas, James Shields and Jeremy Guthrie, who are all in the top 10 in the league in innings pitched, the Royals have a deep rotation that can keep them in the post-season chase all summer. Vargas improved to 4-1 in his last eight starts, seveen of which have counted as quality: six innings or more and three runs or less.dddddddddddd Vargas also became the first Royals left-hander to win eight games or more before the All-Star break since Chris George in 2003. Correia lowered his ERA to 4.95, the only time hes had that mark under 5.00 since his first start of the year, after surrendering six hits and two walks in six innings while striking out three. The right-hander completed exactly six innings for the fifth consecutive turn, and he has allowed two runs or fewer in four of those starts. But the second inning was the one that hurt, when five batters reached. He struck out Billy Butler to finish the frame with the bases loaded. NOTES: The Royals swapped RH relievers Wednesday, calling up Casey Coleman from Triple-A Omaha and sending down rookie Michael Mariot, who gave up five runs Tuesday in his second appearance in as many days. ... Chris Parmelee played 1B and batted third for Mauer. He had two hits and stretched his hitting streak to a career-long 12 straight games. ... One of the runners to reach second base for the Twins was Sam Fuld, who was originally ruled out on a steal attempt to end the fifth inning. Manager Ron Gardenhire challenged the call, which was overturned. Gardenhire is 9 for 19 on challenges this season. ... With a rest day for Royals CF Lorenzo Cain, SS Alcides Escobar batted leadoff for the first time this season. ' ' '