he biggest loser of the NFL Lockout may end up being the San Francisco 49ers. The San Francisco 49ers might need to pull off a miracle to rebuild their defense after losing five of their top players before the first preseason game. Among the departures are three linebackers: Travis Laboy, Manny Lawson, and Takeo Spikes. Cornerback Nate Clements and Defensive Tackle Aubrayo Franklin will also play for new teams this year. Clements is the only post-lockout defensive casualty for the 49ers to be replaced so far. Former Redskin Carlos Rogers signed a one-year deal with San Francisco after Clements was cut from the team.

The 49ers also had some offensive hiccups to start the year after Running Back Frank Gore skipped four days of practice hoping to inspire contract negotiations. Gore is on the final year of his contract with San Francisco, but he’s adamant about wanting to be a 49er “forever.” Gore came back this week and will need to go into overdrive this season to make up for the heavy defensive losses. Gore missed the last five games of last year due to a hip fracture. This year Gore will be running behind a new center as the team also lost David Baas. They replaced Baas this week by signing a three-year deal with Jonathan Goodwin from the New Orleans Saints. Quarterback Alex Smith looks like he will be the one taking the snaps from Goodwin this season after inking a one-year deal to stay with the squad. Wide Receiver Braylon Edwards is bound for San Francisco from the New York Jets to give Smith another versatile target to throw to.

It’s not much of a surprise that the 49ers would take an overzealous offensive approach considering the fact that they have an ex-quarterback as a head coach now. Jim Harbaugh will have to make some more free agency moves to shore up the defense enough to allow his offense more time on the field to win games, though. Due to the speed of dealmaking these days, the best defensive players are already aclimating to new teams. Still, some standouts are still left waiting for new contract efforts. Acquiring a couple new linebackers could make Harbaugh’s first year coaching the 49ers a little more comfortable. Channing Crowder, Ben Leber, Rocky McIntosh, Dhani Jones and Kelvin Smith were some viable options still available as of Thursday morning. Seattle’s Lofa Tatupu could also be a new leader on their defensive squad with six seasons under his belt.

The 49ers need to act fast to shift gears to the other side of the ball soon, though. Team management’s spent too much time tweaking the offense and too little time securing defensive deals so far. If this squad goes into the regular season without making any more significant defensive improvements it could be an unbalanced disaster with all the pressure on the offense to carry the team. So far San Francisco could be considered the biggest flop of the free agency period. Their fans and players are surely hoping there’s more big deals to be made down the road.

The 2010 New York Jets (who play their home games in New Jersey) literally began their NFL season on a reality show; with all their internal drama readily available for viewing pleasure. On HBO’s Training Camp: Hard Knocks, plenty of semi-scripted, Hawthorne Effect induced storylines ensued. As the season went on, more debauchery went down.

Today’s reality television landscape (if there is such a thing as “reality” tv anymore) is dominated by a show “documenting” the trashy lifestyle of 8 guidos and guidettes spending an alcohol fueled summer together in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. And there’s more than a few similarities between the Garden State’s two most popular and trashiest, out-of-control frat houses.

Let’s examine them. “CAN’T WAIT” as Jets LB Bart Scott would say.

Note this is being re-run from last winter. We’ll have to re-cast and find a new spot for Plaxico; and get rid of Braylon

Rex Ryan as Jenni “JWoww” Farley

Both of these large bosomed individuals are known for their incessant cursing and “interesting” sexual proclivities.You’ve heard all about Ryan’s foot fetish, and J Woww was quoted on camera: “I’m like a praying mantis. After I have sex with a guy I will rip their heads off.”

That’s more an expression of attention-whoring idiocy than actual practice of course; and we really haven’t ever seen her hook-up on the show, so we don’t really know what truly fully inflates her fake funbags.

Braylon Edwards as Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi

Weird to compare one of the most svelte and athletic Jets to a squished, bowling ball shaped person? No, because their kindred spirits in alcoholism, alcohol fueled legal infractions and not really being punished for their actions. Edwards got a DWI in September, (not a DUI but a DWI) yet was suspended for what, a quarter of one game? Snooki got wasted in the middle of the day, and was arrested for disorderly conduct on the beach. Yet she’s a role model.

Snooks, like Edwards, is as dumb as a box of rocks but she’s hailed as a contemporary pop culture icon. She’s inspired a legion of followers and acolytes among the semi-retarded, but never truly accomplished anything. Rutgers University even had her as a guest speaker! Edwards is very well paid ($5 million per) despite not coming remotely close to living up to his potential as the 3^rd overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. He’s had one phenomenal season, and three more decent years, but still been invisible for about half his NFL career.

Antonio Cromartie as Vinny Guadagnino

You knew Cromartie, with his gaggle of illegitimate children, would be analogized against one of the most sexually promiscuous characters. Vinny isn’t the biggest slut on the show, but that’s only because all of them pretty much have one purpose in life- getting wasted and hooking up as much as possible. Still Cromartie, the NFL’s answer to Shawn Kemp, has his own “kitchen ditching” going, as he once claimed to not know the names of some of his children. Given both their cult hero status….and you wonder why so many people hate America?

Mark Sanchez as Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino

The man of the house, running things like a mayor. Ultimately, many of their plans fizzle in the end, despite some initial success. However, someone needs to lead this rabble, and they both appear to be the most qualified to lead.

LaDanian Tomlinson as Sammi the Sweetheart Giancola

They never shut up and incessantly whine about what they think their worlds should be, and how important they regard themselves to be within that world. I really have nothing else to say about these two equally annoying non-winners.

Bart Scott as Ronnie Ortiz-Magro

Both are known first and foremost for being tough and mean, and talking trash about their ability to be a bad ass. Loud and obnoxious in their smack talk, each had a catch-phrase summing up their character. “CAN’T WAIT” vs. “one shot, kid!”

Mark Brunell as Paul “DJ Pauly D” Delvecchio

Both of these guys seem “normal” compared to the batsh** insanity they’re constantly surrounded by. Therefore, you sometimes forget they’re around. However, they’re synced up because both are (if I may channel Danny Glover) “way too old for this sh**.”

John Conner As Deena Nicole Cortese

We don’t know that much about these stocky, low center-of-gravity characters because they aren’t major players on the show so far.

Much gratitude to Chris “C-Murder” Hellinga and Kevin “K-Dawg”Diblasi, who served as external consultants and research assistants to make this article possible.

Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net. He doesn’t have a real nickname, but he is also a regular contributor to the Tribune’s Chicago Now network, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker Network, and Fox Sports.com

You can follow him on Twitter @Paul_M_BanksTSB

Reception has been split amongst Vikings in the aftermath of Sidney Rice’s departure from Minnesota to join Tarvaris Jackson with the Seattle Seahawks.

The five-year deal worth over 40 million dollars–18 million of that guaranteed– was too much for the Vikings to match.

One person who is furious with the Sidney Rice departure is his now former teammate, superstar runningback Adrian Peterson.

Via his Twitter account, Peterson voiced his displeasure with the Vikings letting Rice slip out West to Seattle.

I CAN’T Believe the Vikings let my boy Sidney Rice get away! I didn’t think we wouldn’t be playing together this year! WOW!

Seeing teammates that also grow to be great friends leave town is part of the business. But Peterson seems more than just “business” related upset.

The capitalization and exclamation marks show a substantial level of hostility towards the Vikings franchise.

The loss of Rice will definitely hurt the Vikings. Names like Malcom Floyd, Braylon Edwards, and James Jones are all being tossed around to replace the void left by Rice. But will they be enough?

As it stands Percy Harvin–who excels as a slot receiver– is now atop the Vikings depth chart at Wide Receiver. And while the acquisition of one of the above names would help, it’s definitely not the ideal receiving core that new Vikings quarterback Donovan McNabb or rookie Christian Ponder would dream of.

Much more will be known about the Vikings receiving core over the next 24 hours. But right now it appears that Peterson seems very upset with the Vikings front office. Placing a potential hurdle in front of future contract negotiations with the superstar running back.

Brett Cloutier is a contributor to The Sports Bank by covering all things Minnesota sports, but mainly the Minnesota Timberwolves. You can follow him on Twitter @brettcloutier.

In return for the disgruntled wide receiver the Browns received WR Chansi Stuckey, LB Jason Trusnik, and two draft picks, a third (which can escalate into a second) and a fifth round pick.

This marks the second time the Jets have done business with their former coach Eric Mangini, who they traded up with in the draft to acquire Mark Sanchez.  After acquiring their franchise quarterback via the Browns the Jets have landed a number one target for him.

Edwards will be big target for the Jets in the red zone.

Edwards, 26, is in the midst of a second straight disappointing campaign after a breakout 2007 season which saw him catch 16 touchdowns.  Edwards was clearly in need of a change of scenery as he was becoming a locker room distraction for the Browns.  He never really fit in, in Cleveland and been labeled a diva by some.  He gets a fresh start now in New York and will look to take advantage.

After making this trade it is clear that the Jets think they can win now.  They had the opportunity to trade for Edwards in the off season but balked because they didn’t know what kind of team they had and didn’t want to risk giving up a high draft pick.  Now four games into the season, the Jets are looking like legitimate contenders but their offensive needed another weapon, and G.M., Mike Tannenbaum realized he had to strike the iron when it was hot.  In doing so he has put the Jets in prime position to contend for a Super Bowl this year.

However, this deal comes as a mild risk for the Jets.  But a receiver with his talent is always worth the risk.  Everyone knows about issues and his most recent run in with the law involving one of Lebron’s friends.  But if there is anyone that can whip a guy into shape its Rex Ryan.  Rex doesn’t play any games and will not take any of Braylon’s crap.

In getting Edwards the Jets get the number one receiver they have been clamoring for.  He represents the best receiver the Jets have had since Keyshawn Johnson was still wearing the green and white.  Edwards size, 6’3” 215, gives the Jets a legitimate red zone target, something they have been lacking for years.  While Jerricho Cotchery has been great so far this season he is not a go-to-guy and Chansi Stuckey wasn’t intimidating defenses on the other side.

Now the Jets, who have a Super Bowl caliber defense, have an offense that can compete with the rest of the league.  The Jets have struggled to run the ball this year mostly because defenses have stacked the box because they’re not scared of the Jets’s air attack.  With Edwards in the fold defenses will have to respect the passing game as will and hopefully that will start to open up some holes for Thomas Jones and Leon Washington.

While the addition of Edwards will help the running game, the guy this trade helps the most is Mark Sanchez.  The “Sanchize”  has been as advertised so far, save for the Saints game, and now is in an even better situation to succeed.  The Jets have run mostly short to intermediate routes so far this season and have not gone deep often.  Edwards gives Sanchez a vertical threat to complement the possession threat that Cotchery presents.  At the very least, even if he doesn’t revert to his 2007 form, he still represents a huge upgrade over Chansi Stuckey.

Edwards is in a contract year but that doesn’t mean he will bolt after this season.  As it stands now, it is looking like 2010 will be an uncapped year, and if that’s the case Edwards would be a restricted free agent and the Jets would retain his rights for at least another season.  If a new collective bargaining agreement is reached Edwards would remain an unrestricted free agent, but I imagine the Jets would place the franchise tag on him if they are unable to hammer out a long term deal.

The Jets didn’t give up much for the talented wide out.  Stuckey will be replaced by Edwards and the Jets are plenty deep at linebacker to shoulder the loss of Trusnik, who mainly played special team anyway.   The draft picks hurt a little but the Jets will enter then 2010 NFL Draft still armed with their first two picks and their number one need, receiver, filled.  And if the third rounder escalates to a second rounder, then that mean Edwards tore it up and Jets fans will not be complaining. Thanks again Mangini for not only giving us our franchise quarterback, but now also for his go to guy.