NFL Off Season News

[eagle eye]

I found an article that I thought may be of interest. During the draft process like the scouting combine and player pro days you hear all the commentators spew endlessly about 1-technique and 3-technique defensive linemen as it relates to a 4-3 scheme. This is an article from SBNation.com from an April 2011 post that explains the 1 and 3 and 5 with a visual to explain where these techniques line up. I thought it was helpful for those who don't know and want to understand when the talking heads start to spew their intelligence on all of us.

 

http://www.dawgsbynature.com/2011/4/11/2082375/draft-terminology-the-three-technique-and-the-five-technique

[eagle eye]

Okay, here's news that I thought would never, in a million years, be said without a tongue planted firmly in cheek. There won't be a running back drafted in the first round of the 2014 draft. That's not me saying it. NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah said as much in his latest mock draft. No running backs in the first round. The same with Bucky Brooks and Charles Davis. In fact, a total of 8 analyst's mocks did not have a RB being selected in the first round. There is no article I've seen mentioning a word about a running back in the draft. I never, in a million years, thought that a running back would be out of the discussion as top ten pick much less out of the first round. No Tre Mason or Bishop Sankey or Jeremy Hill to be seen as a first round option. This is a situation worth noting. A true passing of the torch. You knew the NFL has become a QB driven league. You know because the NFL throws the ball like never before. You know because colleges have morphed in spread offense machines that feed the NFL with QBs and WRs galore but no running backs. There was a time in the not-too-distant past when teams built around their running backs but no more. Even Minnesota, who has the hands down best running back in football, is looking for a franchise QB and WR's to keep up with Lions, Packers and Bears in their own division not to mention the rest of the NFL. The NFC North was once known as the black and blue division because of the brutal ground games and hard-nosed defenses they played. Adrian Peterson and Matt Forte and still carrying the torch for running backs but NFL teams are not really showing any interest in signing a free agent running back unless he comes at the right price. Nobody will overpay for a RB in today's NFL when the perception seems to be that RB's are a dime a dozen and a good one can be picked up in the late rounds or signed as an undrafted free agent. Case in point, Arian Foster. This is a guy who had a really nice college career but was totally overlooked in the draft. The bang for your buck value of high round running back draft picks just doesn't seem to be there. In recent years there have been more first round busts than there have been stars. It's a new day and age I guess but I think most would agree with me that the era of the running back as a top NFL draft prospect is, if not completely over, it certainly isn't what it used to be. Is this a good thing? Yes, for people who love wide open passing attacks. But they still clamor for a running game so their team can be "balanced". Cowboys fans seem to think that a more balanced offense is the solution to their recent 8-8 funk. Wrong. In 2013 they had their first 1,000 yard rusher since 2004 but it didn't do them any good. Not when their defense was racked by injuries and was epically bad. The offense isn't the problem in Dallas. Not when you have a QB who has thrown for 4000+ yards in every season that hasn't been shortened by injury. No, Dallas Achilles heel has been their defense. Even when the defense was fairly good they never have been able to stop anyone when their backs were to the wall. When the game was on the line, over the last decade, when Dallas needed a stop to win a game, the defense was a no-show. Dallas isn't the only franchise to suffer a poor defense. Look at Detroit or Chicago or New England. Teams who don't necessarily depend on a run game or a balanced offense to score points. Their lack of success is tied directly to sub-par defense. NFL and college teams need to learn how to play defense again. Find a way to shut down these high flying offenses and maybe you will see the return to prominence of the running back. Just look at the two teams with the best defenses from last year, Seattle and San Francisco. You know who their backs are because their defense makes Marshawn Lynch and Frank Gore a necessary piece of their offenses. Why? Because their defenses keep their opponents from turning a game into an offensive shootout. Look no further than this past Super Bowl. The most prolific offense in football had no chance against a team who played defense well and kept the game out of the opposing QB's hands and into their own running back's corner. Simple but not sexy enough for most fans. Unless your team is winning.

[eagle eye]

Something has happened to make 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh lose more than a night or two of sleep. His start QB Colin Kaepernick along with teammate Quinton Patton and Seahawks WR Ricardo Lockette have been named as persons of interest in an April 4th incident in Miami, Fla. The article doesn't say what that "incident" is but it appears to be a sexual assault on a young woman. I want to stress that no details of the incident has been released so it would be wrong to judge Kaepernick or make assumptions about the lady in question. Nobody knows the details of the case except those involved and the police. The investigation, as referenced in the article, is in its early stages but to have your franchise QB involved in a police investigation isn't what a coach or a GM or an owner wants to hear.

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000340524/article/kaepernick-patton-lockette-named-in-incident-report

 

Eli Manning has undergone a successful surgery on his left ankle, the same ankle he suffered a high ankle sprain in the 2013 season finale against the Redskins. As Manning was beginning getting busy with his off season workouts he was still feeling discomfort in the ankle and Manning and his doctors decided to go ahead with the surgery. Manning is projected to begin running again in 6 weeks and he should be ready to go for training camp.

 

For those who need the football fix the movie 'Draft Day' with Kevin Costner begins tomorrow. Pre-reviews seem to be very favorable. Not only that Costner seems to really do well with sports movies although this is his first foray into the world of football. 'Field of Dreams', 'Bull Durham' and 'For the Love of the Game' all focused on baseball but all those stories were character driven and it looks like this takes a realistic look at a football team's war room.

[eagle eye]

Mocks, mocks, mocks. The draft should be next week but instead we have to wait a little over three weeks. I get this vision in my head that the guys from ESPN and NFL.com all get together and do beer pong to decide picks. Whatever name that's on the bottom of the cup is the next pick. McShea, Kiper, Brooks, Mayock drunk off their asses having a great time trying to justify their latest mocks. Awesome.

 

Add Aldon Smith to the list of NFL dumbasses. Seriously, who goes through security at an airport and in the midst of his annoyance with airport security he claims he had a bomb. This is at LAX now, those people don't play. He was booked on a charge of falsely reporting a bomb threat which could result in up to a year in jail. Last spring Smith was at a party in which he was stabbed, he missed 5 games while going through substance abuse rehab and last November he pleaded not guilty of 3 counts of felony weapons charges. I would not be surprised to see the LA county throw the book at this idiot. Unfortunately, his problem seems to be way past disiplinary action on the part of the court system. This dude needs psychiatric help. No more, no less.

[eagle eye]

The New York Jets have signed CJ2K to a two year deal. He will compete for a starting job with Chris Ivory, Bilal Powell, Mike Goodson and Alex Green. At first glance it looks like Johnson and Ivory would make a nice tandom. Of course we'll have to see if it was poor line play in Tennessee that saw Johnson's numbers decline or if age and a lot of touches was the reason. The Jets have quietly gotten better except at WR. I know they signed Eric Decker but Decker is really a #2 or #3 receiver. The Jets will have tap into the rather deep WR draft class in May to get better on the outside.

 

The 49ers are being reported as shopping former Oregon Ducks RB LaMichael James. With Frank Gore, Kendall Watkins and former South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore set to make his NFL debut after rehabbing a severe knee injury suffered in the 2012 season and sitting out his rookie season after being drafted in the 4th round of the last year's draft. If Lattimore comes back to form the 49ers should have Frank Gore's replacement on the team. As for James the plethora of talent at RB is too crowded and the 49ers loss should be someone else's gain. James is a quality RB with some speed and at the right price someone could get their own sleeper pick with a great value. The Cowboys and Texans both could use a guy like James---at the right price.

 

The Donald (Trump) is reiterating his desire to purchase the Buffalo Bills and he is saying if he is able to buy the team he will keep it in Buffalo. That's a good thing for Buffalo fans and IMO it's a good thing period. Buffalo was a founding team in the old American Football League way back in the 1960s and they have built quite a storied history there including an AFL Championship led by future congressman Jack Kemp at QB and in the 1990s becoming the only team to go to four straight super bowls. Unfortunately, they didn't win any of those 4 games but the feat is no less impressive. There is another group headlined by rock and roller Jon Bon Jovi who want to but the Bills and move the team to Toronto Canada. Bon Jovi was part of an ownership team that had the Philadelphia Arena Football League franchise. I'm rooting for Trump because I don't want to see the team leave Buffalo.

[eagle eye]

Greg Cosell is the senior producer for NFL Films and he's a regular on the Colin Cowherd radio program on ESPN radio. Cosell is purported as being a guy who has no dog in any hunt, he plays no favorites. He just watches hours and hours of film and he's a guy who has done just that for years. According to Cosell Kahlil Mack is the best value in the draft over and above Jadeveon Clowney the current wunderkind at the top of most draft boards. Cosell goes on to say that for a 3-4 team like the Texans Mack is the better fit as the weak side outside linebacker. Cosell didn't say that Clowney could be moved to WOLB if Houston drafts him. He is assuming that he will be a defensive end for Houston. I really disagree. As a defensive end it would be a waste of Clowney's athleticism in MHO. This makes the first pick of the 2014 draft such an interesting subject. Houston could literally go in at least 4 different directions by either picking Mack or Clowney, trading down and still taking Mack or they could opt for trade down that would allow them to pick a QB like Bortles, Bridgewater and, yes, even Johnny Football. It's a far cry from 2012's draft when everybody and their brother knew Indy was taking Andrew Luck or even last year when the only cliffhanger was which of the big 3 tackles in the draft, Eric Fisher, Luke Joeckel or Lane Johnson would be Kansas City's pick. (It was Fisher in case you forgot.)

Another interesting thing in this year's draft is the plethora of QBs who will be available. General consensus is that there isn't a QB worth the No 1 pick there are plenty who are worth a later first or second round pick for someone in the market for the "quarterback of the future". Many speculate, me included, that Houston will opt for a QB in the second round. However, Texans head coach, Bill O'Brien, saw Blake Bortles up close and personal when Bortles' UCF team travelled to Penn St and put a whoopin on what was then O'Brien's Nittany Lions. The most common comparison of Bortles to an NFL QB has been to Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlesberger. There are a lot of correlations between Bortles and Big Ben but the biggest one seems to be both were passed on by the big boys in college football and they ended up at smaller schools. Bortles at UCF and Ben at Miami of Ohio. Both did well in college and both were underappreciated in the weeks leading up to the NFL draft. If Houston does go Bortles don't you think Houston would love the two Super Bowl wins and a third appearance like Ben gave Pittsburgh? Darn tootin' they would.

 

BTW - 12 days to the draft.

 

Tidbits

> Earl Morrall who quarterbacked the Colts, then in Baltimore, to a Super Bowl V victory over the Cowboys and also was the backup to Bob Griese when the Dolphins completed the only perfect season in modern NFL history with a win in Super Bowl VII has died at the age of 79. Morrall spent 21 years as a player in the NFL. His senior year in college at Michigan State he led the Spartans to a Rose Bowl victory and later that spring he played shortstop and third base for the Spartans in the College World Series. Morrall died of complications from Parkinson's Disease.

> Auburn RB Tre Mason will need surgery on his wrist after the NFL draft. At least this what NFL teams are being told despite Mason tweeting that he won't need surgery. If he does he should be available for training camp but not for team OTA's. This news could drop Mason's stock in the draft.

> NFL.com is saying that Detroit may consider trading Ndomakong Suh. The often controversial DT might get some interest but he's got as much bad baggage as he has talent and the baggage may make a trade for anything worthwhile to Detroit might be difficult.

[eagle eye]

Such media luminaries as Warren Sapp keep dogging out #1 draft prospect Jadeveon Clowney claiming he's not worth the #1 pick because his work ethic is poor. I hope you know that my tongue is placed firmly in cheek when I refer to Sapp as a "luminary". Sapp has already put his oversized foot in his mouth enough to know what leather tastes like and this rant Sapp is on about Clowney's work ethic is a bit of a joke to me. I would be willing to bet he doesn't know squat about what kind of work ethic Clowney has. There are questions about Clowney's work ethic and motor and heart and questions about whether or not Clowney even likes football. Sapp seems to want to take it to the next level. That's okay. So called pundits like to stir the pot to get their name out there and on the off chance Clowney is a bust then Sapp can puff his chest out and say, "See, I told you!". I wonder if he ends up being what most think he can if somebody will remind Sapp what he said. He may be a pro football Hall of Famer but as a journalist or reporter or whatever the hell he is---he ain't much.

 

The end of Candlestick Park in San Francisco is looming near. On July 12th there will be a flag football game at The Stick featuring two HOF legends squaring off one last time in a celebrity event that will be the final game in that storied stadium before the move to the new Levi's Stadium in nearby Santa Clara. This game will feature in a rematch of sorts Super Bowl XIX QB's Joe Montana now 57 vs Dan Marino who is now 52. It's a charity event and it should be fun to see these two geezers in action and you wonder if there's any life left in those two arms. I'm better there is.

 

Jermichael Finley who suffered a neck injury last October that required surgery to repair will be getting an X-ray on Monday to determine how well he is doing in his rehab. Finley is training in Arizona and the X-rays will be sent to his doctor is Pittsburgh. If the results are positive then Finley will undergo a CAT scan and MRI as part of his six to eight week evaluation process. As of March 21st he was considered at least 2 months away from being cleared to practice. It is still not certain that Finley will ever play football again but if he does it is being reported that several teams are interested in the former all-pro and pro bowl tight end. Green Bay released Finley earlier this year.

 

Johnny Manziel is winning over his critics--at least to some extent. Jon Gruden is a buyer of Manziel stock. I watched a repeat of the episode of Jon Gruden's QB camp featuring Manziel and I have to say, the kid said all the right things. What was interesting to note is when Gruden talked Manziel listened to the point of taking notes on Gruden's critique of him. It seemed the most important advice Gruden gave Manziel was he needed to learn to check down which is something that Johnny hasn't done well in the past. Gruden listed Drew Brees, Matthew Stafford, Andy Dalton and Andrew Luck while showing film of all of them pointing out they are all from Texas just like Manziel and to make his point Gruden asked Manziel what they do that he doesn't and he correctly replied, "They check down.". Manziel was impressive in the program and I believe him when he says he's all football. Why, because his teammates love the guy and you see it on the sidelines whether he's encouraging a player or his whole team or getting in someone's face when needed. The guy is special and I know everyone is tired of hearing about him. I get it. But, I also feel if he gets in the right system he can be really good. He's not just a scrambler he's learning to play his position better. He's working at it. You could see a big improvement in his pocket passing last season and he continues to work at getting better. He has been working in San Diego with noted QB guru George Whitfield Jr to get better. Despite all the negative publicity surround Manziel I don't think he's a problem. He's young and he's reaped some benefits of his celebrity like hanging out with Lebron James and getting courtside seats at basketball games but I think, in the right circumstances, Manziel will be a damn good NFL quarterback and some team will be lucky to get him. Even Steve Young is saying that Manziel can be the next Drew Brees and Jerry Rice has said that Manziel has a lot of the same traits as Young did when he came to the NFL. High praise, indeed. Will Houston take Manziel? I don't think so but maybe they should.

[eagle eye]

Yesterday was May the 4th which was significant for several reasons but maybe the most novel of those reasons was that it was the official Star Wars Day. Get it, May the 4th as in "May the 4th be with you!". For all you non-Star Wars fans out there the main catch phrase of the series was, "May the force be with you." This is the first time for a Star Wars Day and it may be because there will actually be an episode 7 which will feature original stars Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill and it will be written by the same people who wrote The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Again, for non-Star Wars fans, this is a pretty big deal since the last three films were more about the special effects than the story. Star Wars was the brain child of famed director George Lucas but I sort of think he lost focus and he wasn't fully into the series beginning with Episode One, The Phantom Menace. The first two films in the last trilogy were weak with a bit of a comeback in Episode Three. All that being said NFL.com decided to join in the fun of Star Wars Day by doing a Star Wars mock draft. I have to say, as a Cowboys fan, I'm not amused by their choice as the Cowboys pick. Who is it? Check out the link below.

 

http://www.nfl.com/photoessays/0ap2000000346372/star-wars-mock-draft

[eagle eye]

I think the guys at NFL.com are posting their final mock draft--number 1,658--today. Mike Mayock will post his really, honest to gosh last top 50 players in the draft list this afternoon. I wish the draft was back in April because the extra weeks of build up have been excruciatingly long. But, at long last, the draft is TOMORROW NIGHT! I really didn't plan to do it but I'll probably be watching every minute of the Thursday and Friday editions of the draft. I can't help myself. For an OCD person like me it's inevitable that I will have to watch. Heck, it's quite possible my Saturday is spoken for too. Thank God the draft ends Saturday and I can give my wife her due on Mother's Day. I'm extra lucky that it's supposed to rain tomorrow and Friday because I have a built in excuse to plant my butt in my recliner flipping between ESPN and the NFL channel. By Saturday evening I may be a candidate for an intervention and a trip to rehab. I'm as jacked as Sheldon Cooper going to see the Serne supercollider. I have been burning up the Fanspeak.com mock draft simulator for the last week. I didn't dare download the deluxe version that allows trades up or down in the draft because I knew I would be AWOL from the rest of my life as I alternated between being the Cowboys and Texans GM. My dream is that Jerry Jones hears of my prowess at the mock draft simulator and he decides he MUST hire me to be special draft consultant and team leader setting me up with a mid six figure salary and my own luxury box at AT&T Stadium. Sometimes I worry that I'm losing it........

 

I'm tired of all the talk. It's time to cue up the Black Eyed Peas and get this party started. Just one more day--damn it's going to seem like an eternity. Okay, got to get back to the draft simulator, I have to snap up Kony Ealy before someone else gets him leaving the Cowboys without a replacement for D-Ware.

 

[KABrother88]

The NFL got exactly what it wanted by moving the draft back a month...keeping itself in the news that much longer...having such differing opinions for all the "experts" on the QBs available and nobody being the sure fire #1 pick has helped that...that being said I'm with you EE...move the damn thing back to April...I can't handle it anymore...you can only read so many mock drafts until they just all become the same...than you get one that has team like SF (my rooting interest) taking a D-Lineman...if these people paid attention SF has stock piled DL the last couple drafts and have glaring holes at CB and WR. Most mocks have us taking a WR...just pray to God we don't take Benjamin, the guy from Indiana, or trade up too far for Beckham. Would rather have a guy like Marquis Lee who should be available at 30 than those other 3 options. In all honesty I am hoping to see a big move to get a guy like Mike Evans...we don't have too many roster spots open so we really don't need all of the 11 picks we own...if there was a way to be able to get into the top 10 while saving one or 2 second rounders (56 & 61) for a CB I would feel great

[eagle eye]

From what I have learned there aren't too many CB's worth taking in the first round. Justin Gilbert from OK St and Darqueze Dennard from Mich St are the top candidates and one, maybe both, could be available in the middle part of the first round. For the price of a 1st, 2nd and 4th Dallas could conceivably be convinced to trade back. I think Dallas would prefer to trade to an earlier than pick #30 though. I've heard that Cleveland with #26 or possibly Arizona at #20 may be looking for a trade.

I'm not sure why you don't like Kelvin Benjamin. A guy with megatron size, but not quite his speed, would seem like the perfect foil to the loudmouth from Seattle. The Niners may be interested in a linebacker with Aldon Smith's status in doubt. That dude is mentally unstable and needs medical help.

 

I hope that Dallas can snap up three defensive ends in the draft. I would love to see them get Kony Ealy (Missouri), Jackson Jeffcoat (Texas) and Kareem Martin (North Carolina). They would restock a position of need and maybe one of them or a combination of them could replace DeMarcus Ware. I think it's possible to get at least two of the three. I'd take Scott Creighton from Oregon St too. In a perfect world Dallas could trade back with Arizona for a 2nd and 4th and pick up Ealy in the first, LB Telvin Smith in the 2nd (#1) and Jeffcoat in the 2nd (from Arizona) and Martin in the third and if possible either RB Jeremy Hill (LSU) or WR Josh Huff from Oregon in the 4th. With the other 4th I'd get G Dakota Dozier from Furman. If this happened I would care about the rest of the draft. Right there Dallas has gotten better on defense and added depth to the offense. There is one sleeper I'm sort of looking at and that linebacker Tyler Starr out of South Dakota. He's 6'4" 249 and ran a 4.58 and 4.59 at his pro day. Dallas is pretty good at finding small school guys and with measureables like this he's seems like a guy who you'd give a chance to. A 7th round prospect or UFA.

[KABrother88]

We are ok at OLB...we picked up the option on Smith for 2015 and my guy feeling is he will be suspended for 4-6 games this year and be eligible for the final 10-12 games plus playoffs...have very capable backups and 2013 draftees who I think will eventually replace him when he more than likely walks after the 2015 season...but yes the guy needs some serious help with his laundry list of issues.

 

To be honest i don't really know why i'm not a fan of Benjamin...I mean it seems to be so obvious...we have failed to score a TD inside the 5 the last 2 postseason that could have won a Super Bowl and took us to another...a big red-zone target is the answer...but I'm just not a fan of him...but like I said in the other post, we have 11 selections but not 11 roster spots...so why not trade some picks to move up and get a guy like Evans who matches Benjamin size wise but shows better speed, and a better history of production between the 20s

 

As for SF trading again with Dallas...last year we gave Dallas out 1st (#31) and and 3rd (#74) for #18...this year we are at #30 and Dallas at #16 so I couldn't see us giving a 2nd, & 4th to swap 1st rounders

 

But there is a beauty to the NFL draft...no one has a friggin clue what is gonna happen lol

 

And speaking of that loudmouth in Seattle earlier...he just signed a extension worth 54 million with 40 guaranteed...so now they have the higher paid S and CB...so hopefully they'll run outta money soon

[Guest boomer]

Darqueze Dennard from Mich St is the real deal, not sure I saw the Okie Dokies play any Def last year. I think another spin for the texans would be to trade down and get the heir apparent to Andre. Getting Sammy Watkins in the first and a QB in the second would have alot more impact pn this team than Clowney would. I also would not count out Keeping the stud from AtM in the area...no not that one I mean Jake Mathews. here is a top guy that will fill aneed for ten years. Just some out of the box thoughts from ya boy. Fantasy Nation is getting ready to roll out in the next few weeks. Don't think we forgot about you guys we have been on out winter grind. The Lions have made it known they really want Watkins to line up with Calvin Johnson. That would be an incredible duo for the Lions. I also like the Texans to look at Tre Mason RB Auburn to replace Tate.

 

Khalil Mack cannot be counted out he is the #2 best player in the draft and the #1 best fit for the texans at this point. Don't forget this isn't Madden there is no plug and play scheme is everything.

 

others sleepers I like Aaron Murry QB from UGA coming off of injury, Lache Seastrunk BAY solid RB with the best 40 of any of the top RB's and I love the little guy from Kent State Dri Archer not just the fastes man at the combine but a beast last year in college doing it all. I still have a guy I cant keep thinking about how he will fit, thats Jordan Lynch Norther Ill. he was a man among boys in college and reminds me a little of Woddy Dantzler but a better QB some have him going at RB.

[eagle eye]

It's great to see Boomer back on the site and bringing some unique views. I like the idea of Houston picking Sammy Watkins because Andre Johnson is getting on in football years and I don't see anyone on the roster who could become a #1 receiver. There is a lot of depth in defense in this draft but elite type of receivers are not deep at all. The Texans could trade down with Jacksonville so the Jags can get Clowney and Houston can get some more draft picks but they would have to hold their breath and hope to goodness the Rams don't draft Watkins. It wouldn't be bad if the Rams do take Watkins because the Texans would get Mack. I really don't see Houston taking a QB with the first pick or even a trade down and pick.

I doubt that Houston takes a CB. I don't look for a RB to be taken until the 2nd round minimum. That said, both RBs Boomer mentioned would make good compliments for Arian Foster and IMO would be better than Ben Tate. Speaking of Tate, I don't think he has any breakaway speed. I saw that when Arian Foster came back 2 seasons ago from a minor injury. Tate was stopped on a sweep inside the opponent's 20. Foster ran a sweep to the same side and he saw a crease and shot through the hole and was tackled about the 3 yard line. I think Tate will be serviceable in Cleveland but I think the Browns will be looking to replace him or pair him with a guy who does have some burst.

 

BTW---THE DRAFT IS HERE! I will be parked in front of my TV with my Cowboys Star Magazine Draft guide and my computer to see the Cowboys war room and toggle between that and the Texans war room if there is a feed. My TV will be going back and forth between the NFL Channel and ESPN and I will have enough supplies to survive a nuclear winter.

[eagle eye]

The Cleveland Browns found out just prior to the draft that their star wide receiver Josh Gordon failed a drug test. It's Gordon's 3rd failed test meaning it's quite likely he will be suspended for the entire 2014 season. Evidently, the Browns brain trust (?) weren't fazed by this news because despite plenty of opportunities the Browns did not draft a wide receiver regardless of the fact that this draft was extremely deep at WR. During free agency Cleveland had signed Nate Burleson and Andrew Hawkins but they were going to play second fiddle to Gordon. Now, with the potential loss of Gordon, Cleveland has now decided to take a chance on hamstring plagued Miles Austin who is a post June 1st cut by the Dallas Cowboys to save $5.5 mm on their salary cap which should be enough to sign all 9 of their draft picks. Details of the deal are not available as yet. The re-evaluation of Gordon's knucklehead score has not been updated either.

[eagle eye]

Cleveland is stockpiling wide receivers in light of the Josh Gordon deal. They signed former UT receiver Earl Bennett, most recently of the Chicago Bears, to a deal just hours after Cleveland signed Miles Austin. Cleveland has also signed four undrafted free agent WR's this week among the 11 total UFA's signed.

In other Cleveland news despite the Johnny Football fever that has swept though Cleveland, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has stated this past week they are not handing the starting QB job over to Manziel. In the Browns view Brian Hoyer is the starter and if Manziel wants to start he will have to earn it on the field.

 

Former Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez was officially indicted this week for murder but it's not the killing you're thinking of that got Hernandez in such hot water in the first place. No, this is for a double murder Hernandez allegedly committed when a vehicle he was in pulled up to another SUV at a traffic light and Hernandez opened fire killing two people, Daniel Abreu and Safiro Furtado, on June 26, 2012. Authorities are contending Hernandez, after a chance encounter with the victims, "...were stalked, ambushed and senselessly killed by Mr Hernandez.". Hernandez was in the news earlier this month when he was indicted by a Bristol Connecticut jury for an assault of a fellow inmate while he was in jail for the murder of Odin Lloyd in 2013. Hernandez BTW has pleaded not guilty to Lloyd murder. It appears pretty obvious there is a screw loose in Hernandez' head and he is a person who handles his issues with violence.

 

The Raiders have already signed their first round draft pick, Kahlil Mack, to a contract. This would have been almost unheard of before the rookie salary cap was instituted as part of the new players collective bargaining agreement a couple of years ago.

 

Daryl Richardson is now the former RB for the St Louis Rams after he was released by them yesterday. Two years ago Richardson had a very solid rookie season after being a 7th round draft choice in 2012. Injuries cost him most of 2013 and Zac Stacy emerged as the bell cow in the Rams offense. The Rams drafted Auburn RB Tre Mason in the draft last weekend making Richardson expendable. The Rams had actually tried to trade 3rd stringer Isiah Pead during the draft but found no takers so the Rams found another avenue to reduce their stable of RB's.

 

Former Wake Forest RB Josh Harris is blaming the coaching staff at Wake for bad mouthing him to NFL scout and he's claiming that is the reason he went undrafted last weekend and unsigned as an UFA this past week. The Dallas Cowboys have invited Harris to attend Cowboys rookie mini camp beginning today on a try out basis along with 10 other players. Here's the complete article about the Duncanville, Tx native from NFL.com.

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000350525/article/exwake-forest-rb-josh-harris-says-coaches-sabotaged-him

 

[eagle eye]

Some off season NFL news.

 

> Atlanta Falcons WR Roddy White's 1/2 brother, Tyrone Moore Jr was shot to death outside a James Island S.C. nightclub on Friday night.

Charleston Post & Courier:

At 2:51 a.m. Saturday, deputies was dispatched to 222 Mosquito Beach Road for a report of a shooting, Charleston County Sheriff's Maj. Eric Watson said.

Arriving deputies were told that some type of altercation occurred in front of the Lake House Club on Mosquito Beach. Witnesses told deputies that several gunshots were fired and Moore was shot. He was rushed to Medical University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Watson said.

Detectives are still looking for suspects and a motive in the shooting.

White and grew up together and this has to be a terrible blow for White and his family. Keep them in your prayers and let's hope the police can catch the person responsible.

 

> Colts star outside linebacker Robert Mathis is going to be suspended the first 4 games of the 2014 season for violating the NFL PED policy. Mathis said that he failed the test because he was taking a furtility drug called Clomid. The drug hasn't been cleared by the FDA for use and it has been a banned substance for years. Mathis said he should have check with the NFL and the NFLPA before taking the drug. Colts head coach Chuck Pagano said the Colts would stand behind their pro bowl player.

 

> It was big weekend for former Tulane football player Devon Walker. He participated in his graduation ceremonies at Tulane earlier today and later this afternoon his dream of being an NFL player was fulfilled when the Saints signed Walker to a contract. What makes this such a big deal is that Walker is a paraplegic. He has been confined to a wheel chair since a collision in a Tulane football game in which Walker was playing DB when a collision caused him to be paralyzed. This is a real feel-good story and here's the article from NFL.com about his big day.

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000351218/article/saints-sign-paralyzed-safety-devon-walker

 

> The proposed documentary on Michael Sam's life by the Oprah Winfrey Network has been put on hold indefinitely. It is being reported that after meeting with the Rams, who drafted Sam in the 7th round of this year's draft, Sam's agent and reps from OWN decided not to go forward with the production of Sam's life story. I have a sneaking suspicion that Jeff Fisher, in an effort to give Sam the best opportunity to succeed in making the Rams football team, put the ki-bosh on this whole TV deal. General consensus by the media agrees that it's hard enough to transition to the NFL from college without TV cameras filming your every move. That's especially true of late round picks who are generally considered a long shot to make the team anyway.

 

[eagle eye]

Ok, I'm going to make some of you feel a little bit old right now. This past weekend the Baltimore Ravens had a wide receiver in their rookie mini camp with a very familiar name. His dad was a wide receiver and now his son and namesake didn't make the Ravens team but he is slated to try out for his father's former team, the San Francisco Forty-Niners. Give up? I bet some of you guessed already but for those who didn't that young man's name is Jerry Rice Jr. Jr graduated UCLA with a BA and he attended UNLV to go for his masters and use his last season of eligibility with the Rebels football team. He sure has a lot to live up to and even though he probably won't live up to his father's standing as the greatest receiver in NFL history you hope the kid is able to carve out his own niche as a player.

 

The Raiders continue to push to upgrade their roster has signed recently released WR Greg Little. My response to this is "eh". My prediction is he will now drop passes in the Bay Area now.

 

If Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane is a name you are familiar with you are obviously a fan of the HBO series "Game of Thrones". Here's a little article about the actor who plays The Mountain, Hafthor Bjornsson, who could have been harassing the masses as a member of the Indianapolis Colts.

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000352172/article/colts-once-flirted-with-signing-game-of-thrones-giant

 

 

[eagle eye]

Some new from the Fantasy Nation news desk---Need a sleeper pick in this year's fantasy draft? Try this one on for size---Michael Floyd WR for the Arizona Cardinals. His coming off his first 1,000 yard season in the NFL and he's also entering his 3rd season in the NFL which is about the time WR's begin to blossom, it's about the time they figure out how to play in the NFL. Floyd has one the best guys to learn from in the business in Larry Fitzgerald which may have sped up his learning curve too. Need a 1K receiver in the middle rounds of your draft Floyd should be on your radar. It may help Fitz in terms of his overall numbers because Floyd certainly is the best compliment he's had since Anquan Bolden left as a free agent after the 2009 season.

 

When will these boys ever learn to stay away from strip clubs? The latest guy with issues in the newest Bronco DB signed this off season, T J Ward, who came from Cleveland after signing a 4 year $23 mm contract in free agency this spring. There was a warrent issued for Ward's arrest involving an incident at a Denver strip club called Centerfold. Ward is being charged with simple assault and disturbing the peace which are both misdemeanors. The warrent was issued yesterday and he has yet to turn himself in to the police. Ward was one of the prized free agent prospects this spring and Denver signed him to bolster their defense at the safety position after Champ Bailey was not resigned by the Broncos which allowed him to test the free agent market. Bailey was signed by the New Orleans Saints. Nobody seems too concerned with the arrest per se since the charges are simple misdemeanors but it is a little concerning to see yet another NFL player in trouble as a result of going to a strip club.

 

The NFC West seems to have a prerequisite for it's players, particularly defensive backs, to talk smack even when there's no real reason for it. The latest incident is Arizona Cardinals DB Patrick Peterson saying that he doesn't think Seahawks DB Richard Sherman is a shutdown corner. Peterson admits Sherman is good but he is not a true shut down CB. Peterson maintains that Sherman is a cover 3 CB and nothing more. He contents Sherman is a beneficiary of Seattle's system which Peterson says has more to do with Sherman's intereseption total of 20 picks since 2011 than any transcendent skill set. BURN! Peterson went on to say if you study film you will see he's not a shutdown corner at all and if Sherman played in the Cardinals system he wouldn't last because he can't do what Peterson is able to do. BURN!!! Sherman responded as expected on twitter but it was pretty subdued and showed none of the bluster or venom Sherman usually displays. I suspect this isn't over because of the fact they play for division rivals.

 

I didn't know it but last week Johnny Maziel had a lawsuit filed against him for sexual harrassment in a Florida court. Manziel's lawyer, Erik Burkhardt, said the lawsuit is 1,00000% fake and the charges are a joke. NFL.com's Ian Rappaport reported that the suit was likely filed by a "frequent flyer" who files many lawsuits. The clerk who filed the suit said that the name on the suit, Samantha Schacher, could be an alias. The suit is asking for a restraining order on Manziel and $25 mm in punitive damages for emotional distress. Burkhardt said that they would pursue legal action in response to this suit declaring, "We absolutely will protect our client to the fullest extent of the law,".

-Information from NFL.com-

 

One last fantasy note; Cincinnati's RB Giovanni Bernard set a franchise record for receptions in 2013 and the Bengals coaches would like to see him catch even more. Bernard's RB coach said they intend to use him not just in the slot but all over the formation. Bernard himself has said he likes the slot and feels it's easier to work out of the slot. In 2013 he caught 56 balls for 514 yards to go along with the 695 yards rushing for a total output of 1,209 yards. The coaches have said that they want to get the back in Bernard's hands even more in 2014. Just a little heads up here.

[eagle eye]

OTA's have begun for 24 of the 32 teams in the NFL. I'll wager none of the them other 23 have the drama of losing their best defensive player the way Dallas has but it doesn't mean there is no news. In the words of the Joker in Batman Begins, "So, here we.....go.".

 

Tampa Bay owner Malcolm Glazer died at age 85. He was a good owner who did a lot of good in his tenure as the Bucs owner. The way he had it set up his family which includes his wife, Linda, his five sons and one daughter will continue to own and run the team. Glazer also had bought the Manchester United soccer club which has won 5 Premiere League championships and the 2008 UEFA Champions League championship.

 

The Browns newest QB, Johnny Manziel went to Vegas to watch an MMA fight. He got photographed with celebrities and a handful of hot women on his days off between rookie mini camp and OTA's which began Tuesday. Why he can't have a weekend off to do what any of us might do without getting thrown under the bus is beyond me. He hasn't taken a snap in a game yet and still he's being portrayed as a slacker. Please. Note to sports media; give it a rest will ya? Nobody I know gives a crap about him going to Vegas other than wishing they could party with hot women like he does. BTW Manziel took first team snaps in practice today so I guess his coach isn't having heart burn over nothing.

 

Giants signal caller Eli Manning took first team reps in OTAs today. This is first "action" since having off season ankle surgery.

 

Aaron Hernandez pleads not guilty to 2 counts of murder in court today. Hernandez is accused of the murder of 2 men he had an encounter with in a club in which one of the men bumped into Hernandez and spilled his drink. Prosecutors are saying Hernandez tracked down the men in traffic and shot them and third man who was wounded. This is further evidence that Hernandez is a homicidal lunatic who needs to go to directly to jail and no passing GO and no get out of jail free card.

 

The Bills lose two players who they really need for a time at least. LB Kiko Alonzo and DE Mario Williams both underwent hip surgery this off season. Head coach Doug Marone didn't give many details but he said they should be ready to go by the start of the regular season. Also WR Robert Woods had ankle surgery but he to is expected to be ready to go, if not for training camp, then the regular season.

 

President Obama is expected to address sports injuries with a bevy of coaches, parents, medical people and interested organization in a summit at the White House tomorrow. He is also going to mention donors to the cause of reducing or eliminating injuries in youth sports with the NFL expected to donate $25 mm to the cause.

[eagle eye]

Right now there's just info around the league that sort of qualifies as, "blah, blah, blah, yackety-shmackety". There was one item that caught my eye. The news that Colin Kaepernick got a new deal from the 49ers is not exactly earth shaking until you hear what he did. He got paid a lot of money but, as it turns out, he got a lot less than he could have. It was Kaepernick's desire to get a nice payday but he wanted to leave enough on the table to be able to sign his teammates. Maybe there's not enough to pay everyone but when you think of it you just don't hear that every day. It reminds me of Tom Brady taking a pay cut a couple of years ago so there would be more room to sign players. It's just this type of unselfishness that gives me hope that we aren't on the way to hell in hand basket as fast as one might think. Humanity isn't a lost cause after all. How about that.

[eagle eye]

A couple of significant moves were made this past week and one retirement of note.

 

> KC Chiefs cornerback Brandon Flowers was released by the team on Friday. It is speculated that the 5'9" cornerback was no longer in the Chiefs plans unless he renegotiated his contract to lessen his cap hit. Flowers has not been present in the team's OTA practices thus far and now he won't be there at all any more. Flowers was considered around the league as the Chiefs best CB but word is that KC GM likes the bigger CBs like Richard Sherman. He may not be out of work long because ESPN.com is reporting that Atlanta is interested in Flowers.

 

> Also on Friday, Detroit release CB Chris Houston. Houston, like Flowers is considered the best CB on his team. Unlike Flowers though Detroit may have been looking at an injury situation in relation to Houston. He has a degenerative problem with his foot that has bothered him since high school and he underwent surgery this spring to repair some damage to his toe. It was not for certain he'd be back in time for the start of the season. By releasing Houston is also freed up enough cap space for Detroit to sign their first round draft choice Eric Ebron the TE from North Carolina. Ebron signed his deal on Friday.

 

> For all you UT fans it was kind of a sad day yesterday. QB Vince Young who led the Longhorns to a National Championship in 2005 and was Rookie of the Year in 2006 for the Tennessee Titans and made the Pro Bowl in 2006 and 2009 has announced his retirement. Young's career went sharply downhill after an altercation with then head coach Jeff Fisher. Young was released after the 2010 season by the Titans and he spent 2011 with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was given brief looks in several training camps for the Bills (2012), Packers (2013) and Browns (2014) but he was never able to make any of the final rosters. 2011 was the last season Young played in the NFL. He is said to have a job with the Longhorns that was promised him upon his retirement. Despite a $25mm guaranteed contract in 2006 when he signed with the Titans he ran into some severe financial problems and was forced to file for bankruptcy in January of this year but later that same month he petitioned to withdraw the bankruptcy motion because he has settled with his creditors. It's a shame that Young is even in financial difficulties because in his NFL career he has made $34mm and he also made $30mm in endorsement deals. Hopefully, Young will get his life together and be able to move forward.

 

> John Football was drafted in the 1st round of the NFL draft by Cleveland. Y'all knew that. This past week Cleveland head coach Mike Pettine said that as of right now incumbent QB Brian Hoyer is the starting QB of the Browns. Manziel has gone through some rookie growing pains as can be expected and he's been, in my opinion, unfairly judged for a trip to Las Vegas to watch a UFC fight and party with other celebs like Rob Gronkowski between OTA practices. It's similar to the crap Tony Romo had to put up with when, on a bye week, Romo and his friends and teammates Jason Witten and Bobby Carpenter took a trip to Cabo. That Romo trip, BTW, was taken at the urging of his head coach Wade Phillips but people don't remember that. Give Manziel a break. You and I aren't expected to be on the job 24-7 but we expect pro athletes to be? Please, Johnny Manziel, is a known gym rat and practice rat. His teammates loved him at TAMU. The media can be such a bunch of bitches at times. I know they (the media) has a job to do but news isn't so scarce that they have to make mountains out of ant hills.

[eagle eye]

Right now there aren't many newsworthy items floating around. For a change nobody has gotten arrested, involved in a strip club incident or shot anyone. That's a pleasant surprise. For the next month head coaches around the league are sitting with their fingers crossed, rubbing a rabbit's foot and praying to the gods of sanity that one or more of their players are not involved in something legal, embarrassing or stupid. The month between the end of mini camps and training camps are the most nerve wracking of the whole year. After all boys with be boys.

NFL.com has their on-going countdown of the top 100 players in the NFL which is fun but doesn't mean much. Not much from ESPN's Todd McShay or Mel Kiper Jr. Just tossing out trivia and nonsense to fill the time until football gets going in earnest at the tail end of July.

I did find an amusing article about the best names in college football. For an example, a kicker named Blewitt. So here's a link to the article. Hope you get a smile out of it. Actually there are several top names in college football categories which you may find funny or interesting. Nice intro to the coming college football season.

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000354752/article/14-for-14-countdowns-of-college-footballs-best

 

 

[eagle eye]

Just when I thought there was no news what pops up? Word today out of Miami Dolphins camp is fairly bad news for the Fish's offense. First, Dolphins pro bowl center, Mike Pouncey, will be lost for 3 months after he had hip surgery. Next, their prize free agent RB, Knowshon Moreno, who had been puzzling onlookers in OTAs and mini camp with his relative inactivity, underwent arthroscopic knee surgery. He expected to miss one month which is just about the time between now and training camp. Pouncey's loss will last through September which mean he will miss 3 or 4 games.

 

David Wilson was making some noise for the NY Giants as their lead RB until a neck injury and subsequent surgery ended his season. Gone is former offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride and in comes new OC Ben McAdoo. A man with no history with Wilson. Now, Wilson has been cleared to participate in training camp beginning July 27th he's being relegated to a role as the change of pace back behind free agent signee Rashad Jennings. Paying attention fantasy playas?

[eagle eye]

This from a guy who knows department: Former NFL and CFL QB Doug Flutie said in an interview that the NFL is looking more and more like the Canadian Football League. Flutie drew parallels between the NFL now and the CFL when he played in the 80's and 90's. Nice article, nothing earth shattering or ground breaking but one item in the article mentioned that in the CFL the time between plays is 20 seconds instead of 40 seconds in the NFL. You could see this as possible avenue the NFL could pursue in the future.

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000361324/article/doug-flutie-nfl-becoming-more-like-the-cfl

 

Aaron Rodgers was interviewed yesterday and he says that the Packers are bigger and more intimidating that they have been. In a physical division like the NFC North that's a little scary. The Packers have won a lot of games and Super Bowl but Rodgers claims in the past that compared to some teams it felt sort of like they were a JV team. It's nice to have some size like a Julius Peppers, Adrian Hubbard, Datone Jones and adding size at wide receiver and tight end like Derek Sherrod and Richard Rodgers (no relation to Aaron) respectively. Aaron Rodgers admitted that NFL teams are emulating the success of the Seattle Seahawks by adding size upon size to their roster. Not only has Green Bay added some big players they have some important players coming off injury riddled seasons. Clay Matthews comes to mind here. Watch out Norris Division foes in particular and the NFL in general. These ain't the same ol' Packers!

 

While Aaron Rodgers is bragging about the size of the Packers team the Steeler's Ben Roethlesberger is tooting the horn of his defense! It's not how big they are it about how fast they are! The addition of the fastest linebacker since Brian Uerlacher came into the NFL in Ryan Shazier among others Big Ben is stoked about his defense. Not just the D. The O-line has seen some upgrades in the last few years and the weapons he has to work with has got Big Ben ready for training camp!