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Post-Super Bowl plans

Yahoo Sports

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – For a second, when a suit-and-tie Bill Belichick stepped to the podium for his first Super Bowl press conference on Sunday, he almost looked like a banker.

It's appropriate this time of year. Several cost-conscious decisions are only a Super Bowl away for the New England Patriots.

In the past, the Patriots had to part ways with the likes of safety Lawyer Milloy and offensive lineman Damien Woody. This year, there will be some new financial considerations to balance, not to mention a whole new set of names leaving gaps in Belichick's accounting books – this time from the coaching ranks.

Several league sources confirmed to Yahoo! Sports this week that defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel will be offered the Cleveland Browns head coaching job after the Super Bowl. In fact, Browns officials attended the AFC championship game and were poised to make that overture then, if the Patriots had lost.

With the defection of Crennel and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, Belichick is facing a handful of issues he will need to deal with – from a possible raid of his staff to some salary spikes for a handful of players.

Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis is off to Notre Dame, but he has promised he won't take any of the Patriots' assistants with him. That might not be the case for Crennel, who is extremely close to defensive line coach Pepper Johnson and likely would try to bring him to the Browns.

Among others who could be headed for post-Super Bowl interviews is linebackers coach Dean Pees, who could land in a position with the Miami Dolphins. Cleveland general manager Phil Savage also has a history with some Patriots front-office personnel and could try to pry a few loose – possibly even make a package offer to New England's college scouting department heads Tom Dimitroff and Lionel Vital.

It doesn't end there. The Patriots will have to make some decisions with personnel, first and foremost with cornerback Ty Law, who makes a hefty $5.9 million next season. The Patriots also will incur the salary increases of quarterback Tom Brady (he's due a $5 million raise next season), running back Corey Dillon (due a raise of nearly $3.2 million), and wide receiver/cornerback Troy Brown (due a bump of almost $1.7 million). New England also will have to re-sign free agent kicker Adam Vinatieri.

"We don't even worry about all that stuff," linebacker Ted Johnson said about the coach and cap shuffling that awaits. "[Belichick] has done it before. He'll do it again."

For the Patriots, that sure seems like a familiar anthem these days.

WIND SPRINTS

Henry, who lost his job last season to Willis McGahee, is seen in some camps as a quality second-tier back – someone who can get a team 1500 total yards as an every-down guy. In others, he's seen as a poor man's Ahman Green, a player who offers slightly less spectacular production than the Packers running back and comes with the same fumbling issues prior to 2004.

"[Fumbling is] the overwhelming first concern," an NFC executive said of Henry. "People have done their homework on him. The asking price [of a second-round draft pick] is too high. I'd be surprised if they get higher than a [third-rounder]."

As for Gardner, who also is whispered to come with a second-round price tag, the knock is said to be focus. That criticism may overwhelm the belief that he still has room to reach his potential.

"They won't get a [second-rounder] for him, either, if that's really what they are asking for," the executive said. "His numbers aren't great, and he doesn't play big with his body. He'll never be a No. 1 [receiver]. If you're going to take on somebody with those [focus] problems, it has to be for a guy like [Pittsburgh's Plaxico] Burress."

  • The "news" that Indianapolis Colts running back Edgerrin James wants to return to Miami isn't news at all. As we told readers in this column almost seven weeks ago ("Saturday Walkthrough: Enticed," Dec. 11, 2004), James has been telling his inner circle since the Ricky Williams defection that his No. 1 choice as a free agent would be the Miami Dolphins, followed by the Atlanta Falcons.

  • An interesting twist on Crennel's upcoming job with the Browns: It is believed Crennel will attempt to retain interim coach Terry Robiskie on his staff. Robiskie has not been allowed to interview for other assistant openings across the league, and the window of opportunity will most surely be closed by the time Crennel begins to construct his staff. If Robiskie returns, Cleveland quarterback Jeff Garcia will not.

  • Don't be shocked if the Buffalo Bills cut quarterback Drew Bledsoe this offseason. The Bills could save a little more than $2 million off next season's cap if they release Bledsoe, who likely would have to sit behind J.P. Losman next season. Losman wasn't able to work himself into the team's equation after breaking his leg during the season.

  • Despite the fallout with former Michigan product David Terrell, the Chicago Bears and offensive coordinator Ron Turner are eyeing Michigan receiver Braylon Edwards with the No. 4 pick in the NFL draft. The Oakland Raiders are said to be enamored with a running back – likely either Auburn's Carnell Williams or Ronnie Brown – with the No. 7 pick.

  • So much for Bill Parcells cashing it in with the Dallas Cowboys. Pretty much everyone was shocked when they saw Parcells show up for the Senior Bowl this week. With two first-round picks and plenty of cap room to work with, Parcells apparently has taken a more hands-on approach with talent evaluations.

  • After his recent rantings about coach Mike Martz, injured St. Louis Rams tackle Kyle Turley will be released this offseason. In other moves, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are making little progress reworking the contract of quarterback Brian Griese. With Chris Simms waiting in the wings, Griese may be released. And Miami Dolphins tight end Randy McMichael is hoping to sign a contract extension that would make him the highest-paid player at his position.

UPON FURTHER REVIEW

I'm not sure what Philadelphia Eagles receiver Freddie Mitchell was thinking when he mouthed off about New England's secondary. But I did recall a conversation with Patriots defensive end Ty Warren during the regular season, when he asserted uber-emotional safety Rodney Harrison was "the last guy in football you want to [tick] off as a receiver."

Mitchell, who has gotten plenty of television time for his hairstyles and funny postgame quips, apparently never got that memo. In an interview with ESPN, Mitchell joked that, except for Harrison, he didn't know the names of the players in New England's secondary. He then said, "I got something for you, Harrison, when I meet you, too."

"Pretty funny from a guy who doesn't even start unless someone goes down [injured]," Harrison responded to the Boston Herald. "What, he's a former first-round pick [in 2001] and he still hasn't cracked the starting lineup? That's a lot coming from him. … Right now this is his 30 seconds of fame. I think what Freddie needs to do is concentrate on getting better and not worry about what I'm doing. I've been in the league a long time and I'm going to show up on Sunday.

"When you [watch] him, he's always doing the sideshows and the antics. When you do your job well, you don't need the sideshows."

Whatever the case, this promises to be a big one when the Super Bowl finally arrives.