Trade Alert: AFC East Annual Fleecing Party

NEW YORK CITY (NY) - Much was written and discussed a year ago after the AFC East seemingly pillaged teams to uproot newly drafted players for aging and pricey veterans. The Buffalo Bills coaxed Hunter Henry from the then 'San Diego' Chargers for a 3rd round pick and the Chicago Bears gave Cody Whitehair AND a future first rounder for Calvin Pryor and spare change.

But nothing could have prepared us for the trades the AFC East teams pulled off to kick start this offseason.

Early Wednesday morning Ian Rapoport of NFL.com began tweeting about a potential blockbuster out of Minnesota. Most thought the team was keen on dealing one of their star defensitve lineman or obtaining a quarterback, but mouths dropped at Rick Spielman's press conference announcing the team had dealt Rookie of the Year CB Marshon Lattimore, the team's 2018 1st rounder (pick #13) and a 2019 5th rounder for LT Joe Thomas & DT Nick Fairley.

"I know this is unconventional," Spielman said. "But we think Lattimore has hit his peak already. We want to build our teams along the lines and Thomas and Fairley give us a great start."

Spielman seemed a bit thrown off when reporters asked about Fairley's heart condition that may cause him to never play football again.

As if that weren't enough, the AFC East GMs were quickly at it again as word trickled out that the Buffalo Bills were in talks with the Los Angeles Rams to potentially acquire RT Ryan Ramczyk.

Ramczyk started every game for a Rams squad who earned the NFC's #2 seed. 

In addition to Ramczyk, the Bills also were able to finalize a deal to acquire the Rams 2019 1st rounder and starting rookie strong safety John Johnson III. The cost: Andre Branch and Malik McDowell.

In what seems to be a running theme, McDowell may also never play again due to injuries sustained in an ATV accident.

"Rumors," Snead said. "Malik (McDowell) will be great for us."

When asked why they didn't simply draft McDowell in the first round a year ago (instead of picking Ramczyk whom they just dealt for McDowell), Snead simply walked off stage.

As lunch time rolled around on this busy GM meeting in New York, Twitter nearly erupted when @cantguardmike (WR Michael Thomas) tweeted the following:

@cantguardmike - So, just got traded with @EvanEngram & @DalvinTomlinson for a dude with torn ACL and two scrubs. #NYGFail

Jerry Reese, the Giants then General Manager was promptly fired. Dave Gettleman is now the front runner for that vacant position.

With all this activity, NFL fans knew the New York Jets couldn't stay silent for long. It came as no surprise as the team struck the unsuspecting Titans with a trade to acquire All Pro FS Kevin Byard, rookie CB phenom Adoree Jackson, and the team's first rounder in 2018 for a pair of players set to hold out.

"Earl Thomas and Vic Beasley were core players for the Jets championship run," Jon Robinson said. "We needed veteran leadership."

Thomas, the Titans new leader, chimed in later in the day.

"Money talks," Thomas said. "I'm not playing without a new deal."

2017 Season: Super Bowl LII Recap

New Orleans Saints vs New York Jets

                                     1         2         3         4        FINAL

NEW ORLEANS       3         7         0         7        17

NEW YORK               6        10        7         6        29

MINNEAPOLIS – For the team that always finds themselves playing second fiddle in their own stadium to the New York Giants, the New York Jets are now kings of the NFL after their emphatic 29-17 victory over the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl LII.
All season long, the team battled adversity via injury, special teams woes, and player contract negotiation issues. But all that was forgotten as the confetti fell over the team from Gotham City.
"Such an amazing feeling," Earl Thomas said. "This one has to be the sweetest, to bring a ring to our Jets fans."
Thomas, who was named the Super Bowl MVP on the strength of his two interception performance, dominated the seams, taking All Pro Delanie Walker out of the Saints gameplan.
"We went to the well too many times," Marcus Mariota said. "They scouted us well and we were outplayed."
The Jets started the season as favorites to reach the Super Bowl, but had to grind throughout. This game played out similarly to the entire Jets season as the drama unfolded early in the 4th quarter.
With 9:22 remaining in the 4th and the team holding a 23-10 lead, the Jets were on the doorstep of an easy Super Bowl finish. 
On 3rd-and-goal from the 3-yard line, Derek Carr dropped back to pass and aimed to hit a wide open receiver for what should have been the game-ending touchdown pass. Instead, a poorly thrown slant was turned around 102 yards for a score to put the game at 23-17 and the game very much in doubt.
"I can't make that mistake," Carr said. "I had him, just made a bad throw."
After a pair of punts by both teams, Carr led his squad down the field for the eventual game winning TD.
"We (offense) get all the credit when we score," Carr said. "But this game was all about the collective effort of our defense."
The Jets defense, led by Thomas, Kam Chancellor (the AFC Championship MVP), and Aaron Donald, caused five Saints turnovers and only gave up 10 points on their own (both off of good field position caused by Jets turnovers).
With salary cap issues aplenty, this New York Jets team will certainly look different in 2018. 
But, no matter where some of the key players end up, they will forever be remembered as Super Bowl LII Champions.

BREAKING: NFL Investigating Claim that Jets Officials Ordered Artificial Wind Gusts During AFCC

NEW YORK - The NFL is investigating whether New York Jets officials ordered fans placed on either side of the 50-yard line prior to the AFC Championship Game against the Miami Dolphins. An unnamed groundskeeper informed TMZ of two industrial sized fans typically used to test airplane wing lift positioned behind both sidelines after the team's victory over the Dolphins.
The game was marred by muffed punts and crazy wind conditions throughout.
"We both had errors fielding the ball," Todd Bowles said. "This is just ludicrous, we need to be focusing on the Saints and not this bogus story."
Although the claim seems to be a stretch, there has been no communication as to why the fans were there in the first place.
"Look, I'm not a conspiracy theorist," Adam Gase said. "But I'd love to hear why they were there and what they are used for. Those gusts just seemed unnatural and not realistic at all."
Jets players have refused to comment.
Punter Loclan Edwards held an interview with a homemade tinfoil hat on his head mocking the story.
"Sore losers make up sour stories," Edwards said. "This is dumb. ET phone home."
The Jets play the Saints in Minneapolis Sunday Night.
We will have more on this story if any new information presents itself.

Current 3GML NFL Draft Order (Round 1)

*Note: If you obtain a 1st round pick in CPU trade you get that exact spot unless it is owned by a current 3GML team (even if you get the pick from a 'different' team). You would get one spot 'worse' if the pick you acquire is owned by a 3GML team.

1. Cleveland Browns
2. New York Giants
3. Oakland Raiders
4. New England Patriots
5. Denver Broncos
6. Indianapolis Colts
7. Buffalo Bills
8. New England Patriots
9. San Francisco 49ers
10. New York Jets
11. Miami Dolphins
12. Cleveland Browns
13. New England Patriots
14. Green Bay Packers
15. Arizona Cardinals
16. Baltimore Ravens
17. Los Angeles Chargers
18. Seattle Seahawks
19. Dallas Cowboys
20. Detroit Lions
21. Cincinnati Bengals
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
23. Oakland Raiders
24. Carolina Panthers
25. Tennessee Titans
26. Atlanta Falcons
27. New Orleans Saints
28. Pittsburgh Steelers
29. Jacksonville Jaguars
30. Minnesota Vikings
31. Washington Redskins
32. Philadelphia Eagles

2017 Season: AFC Championship Recap

Miami Dolphins vs New York Jets

                                     1         2         3         4          OT        FINAL

MIAMI                       3         3         0         7           0          13

NEW YORK               7         3         3         0          3           16

NEW YORK – For a team that spent a majority of the regular season regarded as the NFL's best and most complete club, the New York Jets also overcame waves of adversity that would have crushed most teams. 
That resilience was again on display as the team gritted out a 16-13 overtime victory over their AFC East rivals from Miami to advance to Super Bowl LII.
Weather was definitely a factor in Derek Carr's return as the wind wreaked havoc on both team's kicking games.
"It was crazy out there," Carr said. "You almost had to aim 5 yards to the right or left to try to complete a pass."
Both teams suffered key special teams errors, with the most costly coming for Miami in overtime as their second muffed punt of the game led to Adam Vinatieri's game winner.
"It was impacting both sides out there," Vinatieri said. "I thought I had it there to end regulation, but the wind just dragged the kick right."
For the Dolphins, this is the second consecutive season that their special teams unit has failed them to end their season. 
A year ago, the typically steady Justin Tucker pushed a field goal and extra point in their divisional loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Jatavis Brown was again dominant racking up 2.5 sacks and eight tackles on a day that saw both sides opt to dink-and-dunk their way down the field in an effort to avoid the other team's elite defenses.
"We are thrilled man," Brown said. "I said this earlier in the season, that I hoped we played them again. All our games are like Steelers vs Ravens from a few years back - it's a good, hard-hitting rivalry."
Teddy Bridgewater, in the losing effort, was 21-25 with 226 yards passing. His only TD came on a 62 yard dart to Keenan Allen late in the 4th quarter which helped get the game to OT.
"I was on cloud nine when Keenan took that to the house," Bridgewater said. "I really thought we had a chance to finish it off there. Hats off to the Jets though. Let's see if they can make it three AFC East Super Bowl champs in a row."
New York will face the winner of tonight's New Orleans and Tampa Bay matchup for the right to call themselves Super Bowl champions in Minnesota. 

2017 Season: Divisional Round Recap

Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets

                                     1         2         3         4          FINAL

BUFFALO                   0        7          3         0          10

NEW YORK               0        14        0         7          21

NEW YORK – The talk all week of a potential Derek Carr versus Aaron Rodgers showdown was just that: Talk.
Derek Carr and the much debated "game time decision" ended without the All Pro signal caller taking the field. His backup, Nate Peterman, turned out to be the best quarterback on the field as he bested future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers 21-10 to earn his Jets a place in the AFC Championship Game.
Rodgers had a nightmare game with three interceptions and a crushing late first half fumble that led to an 83-yard scoop-and-score by linebacker Jatavis Brown.
"That was a huge swing to end the first half," Todd Bowles said. It was looking like we'd be down 10-7 at the very least going into intermission."
Peterman, to his credit, took limited risks and made a pair of clutch throws for scores to send the home crowd into a frenzy as the team now sits one win away from a Super Bowl berth.
"Just a cool experience," Peterman said. "Last year I'm at college and here I am one game away from the biggest sporting event in the world."
Although quarterbacks typically grab the headlines, the player of the game was Brown. In his return from a late season injury, the 2nd year man had a sack, interception, and the fumble recovery for a score.
The Jets will next look to settle the score with their rivals from Miami in the AFC Championship Game. The teams split their meeting this year.

Miami Dolphins vs Houston Texans

                                     1         2         3         4          FINAL

MIAMI                       0         10       14       3          27

HOUSTON                  0         6         0         0          6

HOUSTON – During their recent run of success over the past three seasons, the Miami Dolphins have been a predictably sound squad in the NFL's postseason. That gameplan was finally forced to change in Houston as JJ Watt and Jadeveon Clowney made it impossible for Latavius Murray to run the ball.
Enter Teddy Bridgewater who had arguably the best game of his career with a 14-20, 314 yard passing day which included a pair of long touchdowns to Keenan Allen and Jordan Matthews to lead his team to a 27-6 victory. 
With his team trailing 6-0 late in the first half, Bridgewater hit Allen on a double move to beat Jonathan Joseph for a 62-yard strike.
After a quick 3-and-out, Justin Tucker closed the first half with a 62-yard, dead center, field goal to put the score at 10-6 at intermission. The Dolphins never looked back.
"It was a full team effort out there today," Bridgewater said. "Our defense is build for January football. Tonight our offense had to give them something to work with so they could keep the pressure up."
Khalil Mack picked up another 2.0 sacks to go with his pair from last week's win in Denver. 
The win sets up an all AFC East AFC Championship Game as Miami will make their third straight road trip up north to take on the #1 seeded Jets.

2017 Season: Wild Card Recap

Buffalo Bills vs Cincinnati Bengals

                                     1         2         3         4          FINAL

BUFFALO                   3        10        3        6           22

CINCINNATI             0         0         3        14         17

CINCINNATI – In a rematch of last year's AFC Championship Game, the Buffalo Bills came out again victorious over Marvin Lewis and his Cincinnati Bengals 22-17 Saturday night.
The Bills controlled the game throughout, sacking Andy Dalton six times on the day.
However, a late surge by the Bengals left Sean McDermott's squad with a nervy ending as the team needed to recover a late onside kick to advance to next week's showdown with the New York Jets. 
"I'm not happy with how we ended today," McDermott said. "But we are advancing. We have to play cleaner to beat the Jets next week."
Adrian Amos was the star of the day for Buffalo with four tackles and a 13-yard 'pick-six' just before halftime.
Buffalo struggled mightily against the Jets in their two previous meetings this season, but with QB Derek Carr a game time decision, it's anyone's guess who'll move on to the AFC Championship Game. 

Miami Dolphins vs Denver Broncos

                                     1         2         3         4          FINAL

MIAMI                       7         17       7         16        47

DENVER                    0         7         3         0          10

DENVER – The Miami Dolphins dismantled Drew Brees and the Denver Broncos 47-10 en route to their third consecutive trip to the AFC Divisional Round where they will face the #2 seeded Houston Texans next weekend.
Brees was harassed all game long while being sacked eight times (twice by Miami's Khalil Mack).
Mack, the MVP of Super Bowl 50, always seems to shine his brightest on the postseason stage.
"This is why you play," Mack said. "It's so great to get another playoff win after last year's loss. We just gotta keep grinding."
Runningbacks Latavius Murray and Tarik Cohen both had monster games for the Dolphins.
Murray rushed for 132 yards on only 14 carries with a TD.
Cohen racked up 131 receiving yards on four receptions with a pair of touchdowns.
"Coming from North Carolina A&T to be here, winning a playoff game, it's surreal," Cohen said. "I'm glad they (Miami) grabbed me off the Bears practice squad."
Miami will now travel to Houston to face Deshaun Watson and the strong Houston Texans with a trip to the AFC Championship on the line.