Anthony Barr Spurns Jets, Re-Signs with Vikings

Anthony Barr has reversed course and will continue playing for the Minnesota Vikings, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports. Barr had initially agreed to sign with the New York Jets on Monday, but after a change of heart, the linebacker has opted to re-sign with Minnesota.

Plot twist! LB Anthony Barr has decided to agree to terms to remain with the #Vikings, sources say. He will not be a member of the #Jets after all.

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 12, 2019

Barr, a pass rushing specialist who turns 27 next week, made 55 tackles last season with three sacks and a forced fumble. In 71 career games spanning five seasons, he has compiled 338 tackles, 13.5 sacks, 22 passes defensed and seven forced fumbles for the Vikings, who selected him No. 9 overall in the 2014 NFL Draft.

The Vikings already lost defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson and running back Latavius Murray to free agency. Richardson inked a three-year deal with the Cleveland Browns, while Murray joined the New Orleans Saints on a four-year pact. The Vikings were on the verge of losing Barr before he decided to return for a sixth season with the franchise.

The new league year opens tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET, meaning players are free to opt out of any verbal agreements they make with a team during the legal tampering period.

Barr's new deal with Minnesota will pay him roughly $13.5 million per year, according to NFL Insider Albert Breer.

The Vikings and LB Anthony Barr's camp are hammering out a multi-year deal now, and it's expected to come in at about $13.5 million per, per sources. Barr loves Minnesota, team's culture. And Vikes sweetened their offer last night.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 12, 2019

NFL Predictions 2018: AFC East

The New England Patriots enter the season as heavy favorites to reclaim the AFC East, having won the past nine division titles. While the Patriots' run of success is likely to continue, questions remain for the other three teams in the division. Can the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins or Buffalo Bills make noise in 2018? Here is a preview of the AFC East:

1. New England Patriots (12-4)

The Patriots will win their 10th straight division title, as they own the East—at least until Bill Belichick and/or Tom Brady retires.

The Patriots are noticeably thin at wide receiver—especially in the wake of Julian Edelman’s four-game suspension—putting the onus on All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowksi and wideout Chris Hogan to shine in the passing game.

2. New York Jets (8-8)

The Jets have exceeded expectations under Todd Bowles in two of his three seasons as head coach. They won 10 games in 2015 behind then-quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, and last season managed to win five games despite some experts predicting them to finish winless.                                                                                 

Outperforming the projections of most in what was a rebuilding year, Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan received contract extensions at the end of last season.

Rookie Sam Darnold has the chance to be a franchise quarterback for New York. The third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft impressed in the preseason and beat out Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater (traded at the end of the preseason to the New Orleans Saints) to claim the starting job.

Sam Darnold could be the face of the Jets franchise for years to come. (Julio Cortez/AP)

The Jets feature a dynamic young secondary spearheaded by the second-year safety duo Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye.

The lack of a pass rush is the team's kryptonite and ultimately holds them back from reaching the postseason for the first time since 2010.

3. Miami Dolphins (7-9)

Ryan Tannehill returns for Miami after missing all of last season—and while a return to the playoffs is possible for a club that earned a Wild-Card spot in 2016—the offense may hold them back as they adjust to life without superstar wide receiver Jarvis Landry.

The Dolphins will rely on their deep running back rotation—Kenyan Drake, Frank Gore and Kalen Ballage—to carry the load on offense.

The strength of the Dolphins' lies in their defensive line, headlined by Cameron Wake and new addition Robert Quinn—the former first-round pick who was acquired in a trade from the Los Angeles Rams in the offseason.

4. Buffalo Bills (4-12)

Despite making the playoffs last season, the Bills are quietly in rebuild-mode.

Nathan Peterman begins the year as the starting quarterback, though rookie Josh Allen is expected to eventually take over. No matter who is under center, Buffalo will be woeful on offense after losing three starting linemen from last season (left tackle Cordy Glenn, left guard Richie Incognito and center Eric Wood) on a roster that lacks playmakers outside of LeSean McCoy. 

Thursday Night Football: New York Jets at New England Patriots

The Jets and Patriots will battle under the lights at Gillette Stadium on Thursday night for supremacy in the AFC East. Neither team has the chance to revel in their respective season-opener wins with a quick three day turnaround for this divisional contest. Both teams were able to steal a victory from their opponent in Week 1.

Tom Brady led a late-game drive in the fourth quarter in Buffalo that featured a heavy dose of wide receiver Danny Amendola (four receptions for 26 yards on the drive) to set up Stephen Gostkowski's 35-yard field goal with 5 seconds remaining to seal a 23-21 victory over the Bills.

The Jets, meanwhile, looked doomed after Buccaneers kicker Rian Linder connected on a 37-yard field goal with 34 seconds left to give the visitors a 17-15 lead. Rookie QB Geno Smith led a miraculous (and very lucky) drive that started on the team's 20 yard-line. Smith first hit tight end Kellen Winslow for a 25-yard pass. The Bucs were able to put pressure on Smith on the next play, but he was able to roll out to the right and scrambled out of bounds to the Bucs 45-yard line where he was pushed by Tampa Bay linebacker Lavonte David, who was charged with a personal foul after committing the most boneheaded play in recent NFL memory. The 15-yard penalty put the ball at the Bucs 30 yard line, setting up a 48-yard field goal as time expired for Nick Folk as the Jets won in improbable fashion, 18-17.

Here are the key actors to watch for Jets vs. Patriots on Thursday Night Football:

Can Patriots Continue AFC East Dominance?

            The Patriots have ripped off 11 straight wins in the division since losing at Buffalo in Week 3 of the 2011 season. The Pats have now won 24 of 26 against the Bills after defeating them at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sunday. The Pats have had their way with the Jets over the past decade-plus as well. Brady has posted a 17-4 record since taking over as the starting quarterback. The two teams split the season-series in 2008 when Brady was injured for the season, giving the Patriots an 18-5 edge in the series over the past 12 seasons.

Who will Brady Throw to?

            The Patriots’ injuries continue to pile up. Danny Amendola suffered a groin injury in the first half against the Bills on Sunday. He was able to return and help spearhead the game-winning drive alongside Brady to seal the win, but the wide receiver is listed as doubtful for the Patriots home-opener. Rob Gronkowski is still not ready to suit up and his replacement tight end, Zach Suddfeld, is battling a hamstring issue after struggling mightily in his first career NFL game. Wide receiver Aaron Dobson hopes to play on Thursday night after missing the season-opener in Buffalo. Dobson could play an integral role in the Patriots banged-up offense, along with slot wideout Julian Edelman, who hauled in 7 receptions for 79 yards and two touchdowns versus the Bills.

Can Stevan Ridley Redeem Himself?

Shane Vereen, who ran for 101 yards on 14 carries versus the Bills, must undergo wrist surgery that will keep him out until at least Week 10. Stevan Ridley, the purported No.1 tailback on the roster, was benched after coughing up a fumble in the second quarter that Bills safety Da'Norris Searcy scooped up for a 74-yard touchdown. Ridley will now get the bulk of the carries versus the Jets, who he torched for 97 yards and a TD on 21 attempts this past Thanksgiving. LeGarrette Blount, Brandon Bolden and return-man Leon Washington should also receive a decent amount of touches out of the backfield for the Patriots.

Can Geno Smith Pull off the Unthinkable?

The Jets enter Foxboro as huge underdogs, especially with a rookie quarterback under-center. After defeating EJ Manuel and the Bills on Sunday, the Patriots improved their record to 14-4 against rookie QB's since 2000. Smith went 24 of 38 for 256 yards with a TD, interception and fumble in his NFL debut, but the Jets were able to win on Sunday on the strength of their defense as defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson put constant pressure on Bucs QB Josh Freeman. Smith played decent in the role as a game-managing quarterback on Sunday, but if he hopes to upset the Patriots he will have to provide much more in the passing game. The Jets cannot simply rely on their defense to beat New England; their offense must be in-sync and should look to attack a Patriots’ secondary that has yet to prove they have upgraded from last season.

Prediction:

            The Patriots are still a dominant team, despite their narrow victory against the young Buffalo Bills. To that point, the Jets are still one of the NFL’s doormats, even though they were able to pull off a win in Week 1.

Patriots 31, Jets 14