The New York Jets added some much needed depth at wide receiver in the draft when they traded up to select Stephen Hill with the No. 43 pick.

Hill is a 6 foot "4" speedy receiver from Georgia Tech who Rex Ryan and the Jets are very high on. According to The Star-Ledger the Jets thought about selecting Hill with their first pick, the 16th pick, before they decided to draft defensive end Quinton Coples.

So far during the rookie mini-camp Hill's play has set him above the rest of the first-year players. Ryan likes the way the athletic young receiver runs dig routes, which are routes where the receiver runs 15 or 20 yards and then cuts in. Ryan also noted that he burned the defense a few times on deep routes during the mini-camp. The Star-Ledger quoted him as saying,

"That's kind of exciting to see. That's what you want. You want that big wide out who presents that target and has that long ball speed as well."

The selection of Hill is a great move for a Jets team that was in desperate need of a big wide receiver to fill the gap left by Plaxico Burress who will not return next year – although Santonio Holmes makes enough headlines for two wide receivers he still only plays like one. It's no secret that the Jets are planning to focus on their run game this year but Jets fans are still hoping the team can open up the offense and establish a deep threat – which is something they were not able to do last season – Hill could be helpful in doing that.

The addition of Hill most likely means the Jets won't attempt to re-sign Braylon Edwards or go after another veteran wide receiver. Although I like Hill I think the team should still take a look at Edwards. Edwards is a talented receiver that the Jets could likely get at a relatively low price. The team missed his deep threat ability and his skill as a blocker last year. In addition Edwards was good friends with Mark Sanchez and despite some off field problems he thrived in the Jets locker room. Edwards has some baggage but I think they'd be able to sign him at a bargain price. Hill, Holmes, Edwards, Dustin Keller, and Jeremy Kerley would make for quite a receiving corps.

What do you think about Stephen Hill? Should the Jets go after Braylon Edwards?

Forget Tim Tebow and Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets, its time to start a new quarterback controversy in the AFC East—Ryan Tannehill or David Garrard/Matt Moore.

The Miami Dolphins picked Tannehill with the number eighth overall pick in the draft. Though many don't think Tannehill's ready to be the starter for the Fins in 2013 I think the Dolphins should give the rookie the starting job and here's why:

1. Tannehill's got talent

Tannehill started his college career as a wide receiver and therefore has had less experience playing quarterback than many other quarterbacks entering the NFL. While some see this as a weakness I think the fact that he played wide receiver is further proof of Tannehill's raw talent not just as a quarterback but as a football player. He's fast, (he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.62 seconds), he can throw the long ball and is athletic enough to make big plays, the Dolphins need that.

2. He's played this playbook before.

One thing that makes the transition from college to NFL quarterback difficult for many young players is learning a new highly complex NFL playbook. Tannehill doesn't have to worry about that.

The new Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman was the head coach of Tannehill's college team at Texas A&M University. The Miami playbook is basically the same one Tannehill ran for Sherman in Texas. After the first day of the Dolphins mini camp The Miami Herald quoted Tannehill as saying that "80 to 85 percent" of the offense looked familiar to him. Though, a rookie when it comes to running Sherman's offense Tannehill might just be the most veteran player on the Dolphins.

3. Experience is the best teacher.

Critics of Tannehill starting in 2013 say he lacks the necessary experience to start in the NFL. They say he could eventually mature into a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers but that like Rodgers he should spend his first few years on the bench. I say hogwash. Rodgers is a great quarterback and did not play his first three seasons because he was backing up one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time Brett Farve. Whether you love or hate Farve you can't compare him to either Moore or Gerrard. Sitting on the bench didn't make Rodgers a great quarterback, being a great quarterback made him a great quarterback.

If Tannehill needs experience the best and quickest way to get it is by playing in the NFL. Yes they'll be some rookie mistakes and some missteps but the Dolphins can afford that because they have nothing to lose, Garrard is not carrying this team to the Super Bowl.

 4. The Dolphins need more than Moore or Garrard

 Though he was considered the third best quarterback in the draft most analysts and scouts didn't consider Tannehill one of the top ten players in the draft. The fact that the Dolphins drafted Tannehill when there were arguably more talented players available at different positions tells me that the Dolphins have no confidence in their other quarterbacks. The Fins know that to be a true contender they need new blood at quarterback, Tannehill provides that. He might not make them contenders this year, but the sooner he starts the sooner The Dolphins will have a shot at the Super Bowl again.

 5. The Dolphins fans deserve some hope

The Dolphins have suffered through several bad seasons in a row and a miserable off season that saw the departure of star wide receiver Brandon Marshall. The acquisition of Tannehill has been the one bright spot and the fans deserve the chance to see him in action. With or without Tannehill starting I don't see the Dolphins making the playoffs this year, but with him there's a chance, albeit a small one, and it's a chance the Dolphins need to take for their fans and for their team.

What do you think? Should Tannehill start for the Dolphins?

Forget about the New England Patriots, the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills need to focus on each other this year.

The Bills and Gang Green will open and close their seasons against one another. Both games could have huge playoff implications for both teams. I believe that the Bills and the Jets will be playoff contenders this year but I don't see either squad un-throning the Pats and winning the AFC East. Thanks to a relatively easy schedule, the signing of deep threat wide receiver Brandon Lloyd and two upcoming first round draft picks I think the Patriots will be even better in 2012 than they were in 2011. If I'm correct that means the only shot the Bills or Jets have will be for the wild card and if they're both good teams this year their match-ups against one another will be of vital importance.

Of late the New York Jets have consistently beaten the New York state based Buffalo Bills (who ironically are the only NFL team that actually plays in New York). The Jets have won the last five meetings between the two teams and have swept the season series the last two years, but this Bills team has had a productive off season and will be a force to be reckoned with next year. They signed two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Mario Williams and made other moves to improve their pass rush which was virtually non existent last year. On offense they were able to keep their starting line-up intact and with strong running backs Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller both healthy this year the Bills should have a formidable run game that will help power their offense.

Meanwhile the Jets did little to address the locker room problems between quarterback Mark Sanchez and Santonio Holmes and have not made significant roster changes other than getting Tim Tebow. However, I think the Jets will be vastly improved this year thanks to the change in offensive culture brought about by Tony Sparano taking over the reins as the team's offense coordinator from Brian Schottenheimer.

I think both teams will be improved in 2012 and they'll likely split their season series however I believe the Jets will hold the slightly better record after week 17 and will go to playoffs.

What do you think? Will the Bills Jets games be as important as both squads games against the Patriots?

 The New England Patriots have already achieved a victory in the 2012 season – their schedule.

The God's of NFL schedule making have clearly smiled on the Pats. The defending AFC East champs and 2011 Super Bowl runner-ups have been awarded a schedule that is ranked 32nd in strength rankings. That means that the Tom Brady led squad has the easiest schedule in the league (at least according to the rankings).

The Pats play in the AFC East which is considered a weak conference. on top of that the team plays just four games against playoff teams from 2011 and three of those are home games. I think the AFC East will be stronger than expected this year, (the New York Jets are poised for a bounce back season, the Buffalo Bills might just come to life this year and the Miami Dolphins.....while sorry Fins fans but I just don't see any light at the end of the tunnel for you) but even if the Jets and Bills improve this year the Patriots schedule is still easy. The Pats should be a shoe in for another AFC East division win. Barring a major injury Brady and company will be able to sleep walk their way to at least 11 wins.

The Pats players are probably salivating over a Sept. 16 match-up against the Arizona Cardinals, an October 14 game against the Seattle Seahawks, two match-ups against the Dolphins (Dec. 2 and Dec. 30) a Nov. 18 game against the Indianapolis Colts and Dec. 23 game versus the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The biggest challenges for the Pats this year (other than over coming boredom and not getting rusty against bad teams) will come against the Baltimore Ravens, Sept. 16, the Denver Broncos, Oct. 7, Houston Texans, Dec. 10, and the San Francisco 49ers Dec. 16. Even if they lose all four games and split their series with the Jets and Bills that's still only 6 games in the loss column.

2012 prediction: given the ease of their schedule Bill Belichick's squad will win at least 11 games and will hold onto their title as the AFC East champs without breaking much of sweat.

What do you think? What are the hardest games on the Patriots schedule? Will they win the AFC East again this year?

Here's the Pats full 2012 schedule:

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 9, at Tennessee, 1:00 PM

Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 16, Arizona, 1:00 PM

Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 23, at Baltimore, 8:20 PM

Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 30, at Buffalo, 1:00 PM

Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 7, Denver, 4:15 PM

Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 14, at Seattle, 4:05 PM

Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 21, NY Jets, 4:15 PM

Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 28, at St. Louis, 1:00 PM

Week 9: BYE

Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 11, Buffalo, 1:00 PM

Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 18, Indianapolis, 1:00 PM

Week 12: Thursday, Nov. 22, at NY Jets, 8:20 PM

Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2, at Miami, 1:00 PM

Week 14: Monday, Dec. 10, Houston, 8:30 PM

Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 16, San Francisco, 8:20 PM

Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 23, at Jacksonville, 1:00 PM

Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 30, Miami, 1:00 PM

Even though the New England Patriots made it to the Super Bowl last year the team has a lot to fix this off season

The Pats offense was great on the whole but the the team lacked a strong deep threat which prevented them from capitalizing fully on the strength of Tom Brady's arm. In addition the team's defense – if you can really call it that – was dreadful. Though the defense improved somewhat in the playoffs it finished the regular season ranked 31st in pass defense. It was one of the worst defensive units to ever play in the playoffs no less the Super Bowl.

So far this off season the Patriots have already moved to add a deep threat on offense by signing wide receiver Brandon Lloyd. Lloyd will be reunited with Josh McDaniels who is now the Pats OC and who was the head coach of the Denver Broncos the year Lloyd had a career year logging 77 receptions on the way to a league leading 1,448 yards receiving.

Despite the offensive improvements the Pats still need to fill many roster spots on defense. In particular they need to improve their anemic secondary. The Pats have six picks in the upcoming draft and two in the first round. Historically Bill Belichick likes to wheel and deal on draft day and its hard to predict what he'll do. However, whatever he does Belichick will be operating with an eye towards defense. Belichick has a background as a defensive coordinator and he can't be happy with his team's performance last year.

With the addition of wide receiver Lloyd the Pats should have a potent deep threat next year, if they can field a respectable defense they'll be an even more dangerous team than normal in 2012.

What do you think? Who should the Pats pick in the draft?

To appear on "Hard Knocks" or not to appear, for Rex Ryan and the New York Jets that is the question.

The Jets were featured on the HBO reality TV show two years ago and it was the most popular season of the show. Fans grew to love and hate the foul-mouthed Ryan and his rag tag band of Jets. Darrelle Revis' holdout that season provided the show with added drama and classic moments abounded, including a popular segment in which Antonio Cromartie seemed to forget the names of some of his many kids.

So it's no surprise that HBO asked the Jets to be featured on the show again, however what is surprising is that Ryan reportedly is against the idea. According to the New York Post, though team owner Woody Johnson wants the Jets back on the show, Ryan has become a little press shy. Apparently Ryan does not want to be on the show and wants to avoid bringing unneeded attention to the team in light of the Jets late season collapse last year, their locker room disharmony, the acquisition of Tim Tebow and the very real potential for a big quarterback controversy Tebow brings with him.

HBO was said to also be interested in having the the Peyton Manning led Denver Broncos on the show but like the Jets they declined and it looks like the show might end up featuring the Atlanta Falcons.

But back to the Jets. While many will see Ryan's sudden press shyness as a positive development for the fourth year head coach, I think whether the Jets appear on "Hard Knocks" or not is irrelevant. Ryan and his Jets were loud, proud, boisterous and boastful in 2009 and 2010 and they had great seasons and made it to the AFC finals both years. Their appearance on "Hard Knocks" in 2010 didn't hurt the team. In 2011 Ryan and the Jets continued to be loud and boastful but didn't back up their big talk on the field. Much has since been made of Ryan's loud mouth persona and habit for making wrong Super Bowl predictions. However, in my mind the problem wasn't so much how Ryan handled press conferences but how he handled game plans. The Jets were unsuccessful in 2011 not because Ryan made too many bold predictions, but because their offense and their offensive mindset was dreadful. The Jets took off season steps to change that by replacing offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer with Tony Sparano. Jets fans should hope that means Ryan is really committed to having a competitive team on both offense and defense. If the Jets don't get better on offense Ryan can decline all the media opportunities he wants, make less predictions, and get his team to be more quiet and humble, but it won't matter because at the end of the day a losing season is a losing season.

What do you think? Is declining the "Hard Knocks" offer a positive move for Ryan and the team?