Once the shine of the Super Bowl wears off, it’s time for the NFL to get back to regular business and this time of year GM’s are evaluating draft talent and dealing with free-agents coming and going from their franchise. It’s still early, but already we have seen several high profile players on the move and talk of rule changes that are being touted as making the game safer.
Wes Welker seemed to have a deal in place to stay in New England, but when the Denver Broncos came calling, he switched gears and signed to play in the Mile High city. Welker has been prolific over the past six season, compiling over 1,000 yards and 100 receptions in five of those. He will be moving from one Hall of Fame quarterback in Tom Brady, to another in Peyton Manning. The Broncos receiving corps is already solid, but the addition of Welker may put them among the league’s best. Welker is a solid possession receiver that isn’t afraid to go across the middle of the field and make the tough catch. He had another great year in 2012 and there is no reason to expect a slowdown in 2013.
Safety Ed Reed has had a solid career that may one day see him in the Hall of Fame. He spent the first 11 seasons with Baltimore and many expected he would retire following the Super Bowl win. Instead, it looks as though Reed is going to move to Houston to play in the secondary for an already tough Texan defense. Reed brings 61 career interceptions, and NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award, and nine Pro Bowl appearances with him. Terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.
A proposed rule change has some players upset with what they see as being detrimental to the level of play. A new rule would penalize an offense 15 yards if an offensive player initiates contact with the defense with the crown of the helmet by lowering the head. This rule would be enforced outside of the tackle box. Chicago Bear running back Matt Forte has been critical saying that an offensive player must lower their head when they lower their shoulder and having to keep their head up will not allow a ball carrier to protect themselves properly. Former NFL stars such as Emmitt Smith and Marshall Faulk have also been critical of the proposed change.
Apparently Mountaineer quarterback Geno Smith impressed scouts at the West Virginia Pro Day last week. Smith has all the athletic tools needed to be successful and his skills have put him in a position to be one of the first players selected in the 2013 NFL Draft. In his senior season, Smith hit on 71% of his passes, threw for 42 touchdowns and was only picked off six times. Teams that are reportedly the most interested in Smit are the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Philadelphia Eagles.