COHEN'S CORNER SPORTS

The Denver Broncos must be really, really desperate. On Friday, the Broncos stunned the world when word got out that they had acquired Mark Sanchez from the Philadelphia Eagles for a conditional seventh round pick in 2017.  While John Elway may say that this is the first step in the process, you can rest assure this is not the step he was hoping to take. It had been long presumed that the Broncos would lock-up Brock Osweiler long term after Peyton Manning retired on Monday. Instead, Osewiler, perhaps feeling his oats after starting seven games this year, and maybe even feeling a little jilted by the Broncos after being benched before the postseason, signed a $72 million deal with the Houston Texans. Von Miller will see a lot more of Mark Sanchez on his back. While the Texans are once again making a reach by signing a back-up quarterback with minor success in the NFL, it is the Broncos who are in no man's land. Rumors have been swirling that the team will go after Colin ...

The Jets quickly answered the vacancy at running back left by Chris Ivory by signing veteran Matt Forte to a three year contract worth over $12 million, and then quickly re-signed Bilal Powell to contract extension solidifying the Jets back-field. These are two very solid moves by the Jets. In Forte, the Jets get a running back who has been an every-down back throughout his career in the NFL. Forte has rushed for 1,000 or more five times in his career, and has been selected to two Pro Bowls. He averages 4.2 yards per carry, and has a knack for being a valuable pass catcher out of the back field. Forte is a good inside outside runner, and when he gets into the open field is tough to bring down. He has also proven durable throughout his career in Chicago. As for Powell, his signing was a must. When healthy last year, Powell was the Jets best option on screen passes out of the backfield. He ended up third on the team in targets (64) and receptions (47), and yards (388). Powell also ...

The Giants spending spree on defense continued earlier this week with the signing of Olivier Vernon. Vernon, formally of the Miami Dolphins gives the Giants an edge passer rusher they were so desperately seeking. During his time in Miami, Vernon amassed 29 sacks including a career high 11.5 half sacks in 2013. However, Vernon has had only 13 sacks combined in the last two years. A lot of people point to Vernon's lack of production in the sack department as a reason why the Giants deal with him is a gamble. New York will be paying Vernon $85 million over five years, or $17 million per season. While the criticism is understandable, considering that Vernon is not exactly the most elite pass rusher in the league, he is a guy who has made a living getting to the quarterback and disrupting offenses. Not to mention, the Giants get extremely lucky getting a player who is only 25 years old. On one hand, Vernon has a lot of good football ahead of him, and he hasn't even reached h...

A day after missing out on Charles Johnson and Mario Williams, and having to re-sign Jason Pierre-Paul, the Giants finally made a positive splash as free agency kicked off on Wednesday, and did so while spiting their neighbors the New York Jets.  Big Blue agreed to a multi-year deal with former Jet defensive tackle Damon Harrison. The deal covers five years and $46.25 million with $24 million guaranteed and $30 million over the first three years.  This deal comes off the heels of the Giants overpaying corner Janoris Jenkins $62 million to leave the Rams.  Nabbing Harrison is a huge plus for the Giants, who desperately needed some beef up front. Harrison was front and center in the middle of the Jets defense the past three seasons, providing a solid running stopping defender, and paving the way for the Jets edge rushers to get to the quarterback. Last season, Harrison had 72 tackles and a half sack for the Jets. While he isn't a sack machine, his 350 lb frame wi...

NFL free agency is getting off to a wild and fast start. Just a full day before teams can officially begin signing players, already we have seen a number of big moves made around the league, and the two New York clubs are no exception. The Giants decided to re-sign Jason Pierre Paul to a one year deal worth $10.5 million after losing out to Mario Williams, who signed with Miami, and Charles Johnson who decided to return to Carolina. This is a very odd move, considering that JPP was hamstrung by a decimated right hand that he blew up during the 4th of July last summer. JPP was not an impact on the Giants at all last season. He had only one sack and 26 tackles all year. He was clearly bothered by the giant club that he wore on his right hand. He is said to have surgery on that hand to get him to grip better, but let's be honest JPP is not the same player he used to be, and never will be. The Giants must believe that the defensive end market is too thin for them because going ba...

If the Jets and Ryan Fitzpatrick want to remain together in 2016, they are going to have to find some middle ground rather soon in contract talks. Right now, neither side is even close to coming to a deal, as it was reported that both sides see Fitzpatrick's value very differently. The New York Post reported Tuesday morning that Fitzpatrick sees himself in the range of $16-18 million, since Sam Bradford, another rather mediocre quarterback was able to draw $18 million per year from the Eagles. The Jets, view Fitzpatrick at a handsome $8-10 million in value. First of all, Fitzpatrick is not worth $18 million. He is not even worth $10 million. Fitzpatrick is a journeyman quarterback who has never appeared in a playoff game. He spent much of his career toiling around the league as a back-up both in St. Louis and Cincinnati, and when he actually got a chance to start full time in Buffalo, they couldn't wait to get rid of him.  In Tennessee and Houston, Fitzpatrick spent most...

I guess, as they say when a top sports athlete retires after a long and successful career it is a sign we are all getting old. Well, the day has arrived for us to live in a world where Peyton Manning no longer laces them up in the NFL. Peyton Manning's long anticipated decision to hang up his cleats and retire from professional football has now come. Over the weekend, Manning announced that he planed to retire, and made it official with a press conference at Broncos headquarters in Denver on Monday afternoon. There is not much left to say about Manning's career that hasn't already been said. Come the year 2021, Manning will be enshrined in football's Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio as one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game. Put the recent controversies to the side, because Manning lived up to and exceeded expectations.  When he was drafted Number 1 overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1998 NFL draft, a lot of people debated whether the Col...

On March 4, I had the opportunity to sit down and talk to Tom Dakers of Blue Bird Banter about the Toronto Blue Jays upcoming season. Last year, the Blue Jays won 93 games and advanced all the way to the ALCS, before losing to the Kansas City Royals in six games. The Blue Jays led the league in just about every statistical category, offensively, becoming one of the most prolific offenses in baseball history. While the Jays return many of the same faces, their biggest question this year will be pitching. Do they have enough of it? We discuss. Take a listen: http://tobtr.com/s/8322957 

On March 2, I opened up my month long coverage of MLB Spring Training Capsules with a preview of the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox made two major moves in the off-season, acquiring David Price and Craig Kimbrel to boast their pitching staff. As a result, USA Today picked them to win the AL East in 2016. Still the Red Sox enter this season with plenty of question marks, such as Pablo Sandoval's weight issues; Hanley Ramirez's adjustment to first base, and the aging of David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia. Still the Sox do have a number of young, talented players on the team right now like outfielder Mookie Betts. I had the opportunity to speak to Tom Joyce about the Red Sox season on Blog Talk Radio. Take a listen: http://tobtr.com/s/8342975