Feb

28

For the Love of The Game: Why The Draft Process Is So Fun To Watch

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Watching the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine has been both rewarding for me in gaining some crucial draft knowledge, and getting to see all of these kids’ hardwork pay off a little bit.

For me, draft day is the culmination of everything coming together for a young man, and him and his family, reaching the pinnacle of his career, the NFL.

But all of the other events leading up to the draft, the Senior Bowl, the Combine, the Pro Days, everything is just so refreshing to watch, because for once, it is not all about the business side of the off-season, and it is not about the wins or the losses, it is about the kids working their tails off to get to the show.

Put the off-field issues aside, the Combine is the place where all of the top prospects come together to show off their hard work, and their skill set.

Today Tim Tebow was the topic of conversation, and it was one of the most heated discussions I have ever seen on NFL Network. It was all over his throwing motion and footwork.

When NFLN finally got an interview with Tim, he came off so modest, and kept saying that he is “blessed” and that his hard work can help him make it in the NFL, and that he is willing to do any drill he is asked to, and do anything period, to help him get better as a player.

I was a little sceptical of Tebow all through college, but it was this conversation that sparked my idea for this post.

The truth of the matter is, most of the players at the Combine are not focused on how much money they could be making. They are focused on improving their draft stock. The money is the afterthought that they get to once they get drafted. Once these guys are close to their second contract in the NFL, money is all that they are thinking about. Their performance is motivated by not only by their love of the game, but now it is motivated by the smell of a big payday.

It was only a couple of months ago that these players were motivated by a potential National Championship berth. Now they are focused on improving their draft stock, and making sure they get drafted, and achieve their dream of finally playing professional football.

To watch this process, is truly something to sit down and enjoy. These guys love the game of football, and most, rookies and veterans, would play for free, and it is that love of the game that attracts me to the Combine, Draft, etc.

There’s nothing like the draft process. For once there is a couple months where it is not about the wins and the losses, but the kids amount of determination to get to where they want to be.

This may not be the off-season for the front offices of each of the 32 NFL teams, but it is the off-season for guys like me, who enjoy the sight of kids working for what they want, and all of their hard work paying off. The Combine is where that all comes together, and over a span of four days, lightens the heart of everyone watching these young men do their thing, in preparing for their future career.

Feb

27

Report: Jets to release running back Thomas Jones

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Despite a big 2009 season that helped the team get to the AFC Title game, it looks as if Thomas Jones’ career in New York with the Jets is over. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports via his Twitter account that Jones will not be restructuring his contract with the Jets and will be released this week. Jones, who will become a free agent on March 5, was slated to receive a $3 million roster bonus March 9 and a $2.8 million base salary in 2010. The Jets are ready to move on as they have good depth at running back with Leon Washington and rising star Shonn Greene. Jones will for sure be a hot player on the free agent market, and will get plenty of looks from teams looking to upgrade their run game.

Feb

27

Owens to be a free agent; Bills announce they will not offer him a contract

Filed Under 2010 Free Agency, Buffalo Bills | Leave a Comment


Terrell Owens will have something else to talk about on his reality show this offseason, as he won’t be coming back to the Buffalo Bills. The team announced Saturday they do not plan to offer him a contract. By doing that, Owens will be allowed to sign with any team starting at midnight on March 5th.

The Bills also declined to offer contracts to defensive end Ryan Denney and wide receiver Josh Reed.

“We wanted to inform all three players ahead of the start of the free agency period so they could begin making their plans,” Bills general manager Buddy Nix said. “We just felt that was the right thing to do. All three have represented our organization with class and we thank them for their dedication and hard work.”

Last season in his only year with the Bills, Owens caught 55 passes for 829 yards and five touchdowns in his only season in Buffalo. He also ran for a touchdown. He will turn 37 this December.

“I would like to thank the great fans in Buffalo, Ralph Wilson & the Bills organization for all their supports this past season,” Owens said on Twitter.

The six-time Pro Bowl receiver caught his 1,000th pass in Week 16 at Atlanta to become the sixth player in league history to reach the milestone. Owens then moved into third place on the career list with 14,951 yards receiving in a 30-7 win over Indianapolis in Week 17.

Denney and Reed were both second-round picks in the 2002 draft. Denney made 318 tackles and 23 1/2 sacks in his career, while Reed is fifth on the club’s career receiving list with 311 catches for 3,575 yards.

Feb

27

Texas QB McCoy says his shoulder will be 100 percent and is ‘just about ready to go’

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While Sam Bradford is being toasted as the top QB that will be taken in April’s NFL Draft, another QB that teams are taking a long look at is Texas QB Colt McCoy. The QB had a solid 2009 season, throwing for 3521 yards, 27 touchdowns and 12 picks. The end of his career at Texas though was filled with issues, as he had nerve damage in his throwing shoulder.

He hurt the shoulder in the BCS Title game, but says that the damage should not change what teams think about him when it comes to wanting to draft him in late April. He had an MRI on Friday, which showed no damage in the shoulder.

“Obviously, that was going to be a tough part of the weekend, because people are going to want to know how the shoulder is and how it’s healing up,” the University of Texas standout said. “The good thing is my shoulder is 100 percent fine. There’s nothing wrong with it. We found nothing wrong with it. It’s just a nerve injury, and it’s just about 100 percent. It’s just about ready to go.”

McCoy says he can’t tell the difference in his shoulder strength in the weight room and will throw fully at Texas’ Pro Day on March 30. McCoy is telling teams to look past the injury and the measurements. “I have a lot of intangibles you can’t measure.”

McCoy has been in rehabilitation and working with noted surgeon Dr. James Andrews of Birmingham, Ala., since the injury and is currently on what he calls a “strict” throwing schedule. “I can’t wait to get out there and show them my shoulder is OK, and I can make all the throws,” McCoy said.

Feb

27

Bills appear likely to keep running back Marshawn Lynch

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In an offseason that has been filled with change, and the changes that are still to come, there doesn’t seem to be any likelihood that the Buffalo Bills backfield duo is going to change in 2010.

According to an article appearing on nationalfootballpost.com, Bills head coach Chan Gailey has given no indication the team intents to part ways with former first round pick Marshawn Lynch.  Rather, it very much sounds as if Lynch is staying put and will be a focial point for the offense along with fellow backfield running mate Fred Jackson.  Here’s some of Gailey’s thoughts regarding Lynch in the article by Aaron Wilson:

“Marshawn is an excellent football player,” Gailey said today at the NFL scouting combine. “The guy’s extremely talented, can catch the ball, can run it. He can run with power. He can get around the edge. He’s a very good football player. I hope we’re able to take him and use him.

“I’m not so sure that today it doesn’t take two quality guys to get you through a season,” Gailey said.  “We’re finding that more and more and more in our league. The players are getting so much bigger and stronger and faster that the collisions are bigger every year. It takes you a couple guys to be able to get you through a year.”

There were rumors earlier this month regarding a possible deal between the Bills and the San Diego Chargers involving Lynch and Chargers corner Antonio Cromartie.  Given Lynch’s colorful and alarming off-the-field history, along with the Bills’ new regime takeover, Lynch returning to Buffalo seemed very much in question.  But the latest comments from Gailey seem to suggest the Bills have every intention of hanging on to Lynch.

Feb

27

NFL Competition Committee to take a look at current overtime format

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As a football fan you either love or hate the current overtime format. There’s really not much of a way around it, as if your team loses a lot of times you hear about how OT is unfair, and then again if your team wins it’s fine as is. Finally the NFL has decided enough is enough, and in late March the competition committee will take a look at the rule of OT according to Peter King of SI who twitted about it earlier today:

Here’s a stunner: NFL Competition Committee will consider a “modified sudden death” rule at NFL Meetings in late March.

I personally feel it is just fine as is. If a team loses the toss and can’t stop the opposing team, so be it. Sure it’s tough to watch your team battle for three hours and then lose after they lose a coin toss and can’t stop the opposing offense, but it’s not like they don’t have the chance to do it.

This may be just posturing by the league to try and settle down those that seem to complain about it after every OT game that is own on the first possession. To me, it’s a non-issue, and if they crack and go with the college rules they are just bowing down to those whiners that complain about it all season after overtime games.

Feb

27

Oklahoma QB Bradford not talking what teams have talked to him

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Sam Bradford
Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford is showing some pretty good savvy this weekend at the NFL Combine in Indy, as so far he’s decided to be coy about what teams he’s talked to about being on their roster in the 2010 season. “I don’t think that needs to be out there,” said Bradford.

You can be the St.Louis Rams, sitting with the number one pick, is one team that talked to Bradford. They are going to look at a QB, and last week one report said there is no doubt that they will take a QB with the first pick, and they are very interested in the Oklahoma QB.

There are plenty of teams that seem to like Bradford in the top 10, and if the Rams take a pass on him, he won’t fall too far down the list. Rams general manager Billy Devaney said Friday that he has not decided what to do with the first pick in April’s draft. Devaney contradicted reports Friday that the Rams have settled on Bradford with the No. 1 pick.

Feb

27

Broncos still undecided on the future of Brandon Marshall

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What to do with Brandon Marshall? That is the biggest question these days it seems facing the Broncos, as some feel they should cut their losses with the troubled wide out and move on, while others feel he has too much talent and he’s the teams best playmaker and needs to be around.

Today the News-Tribune talks about Marshall, and says that as of now, no real decision has been made about what they are going to do with him for the 2010 season:

Denver coach Josh McDaniels was asked repeatedly about receiver Brandon Marshall at the Scouting Combine but he didn’t say anything that hinted at a conclusion to Marshall’s fate. “That’s a process that will play itself out here,” McDaniels said. “Don’t have anything to report as far as contract or status.” Marshal is at the end of his contract, and would have been an unrestricted free agent, but now with the salary cap expected to be removed, he would become restricted which leaves Denver with a decision to make and opens the likelihood the Broncos would receive compensation from whomever would sign him if in fact he doesn’t re-sign in Denver. For now, Marshall is in Denver, and McDaniels left open all possibilities, including a return.

“He’s a very good football player,” McDaniels said. “There’s no question about it, and he had a great season this year in terms of his production. Pro Bowl year. He did have a great year, and I think any time you’re dealing with players and contracts, you weigh a lot of things. Certainly, the fact that we did it already once certainly makes you believe that you can do it again and again. I’ve said before, and I’ll say it again, I’m really fond of him. He’s a good person and certainly played a huge role on the team. There’s a lot of things that go into that, and we’re certainly not at any where we’ve made a decision on exactly what’s going to happen.”

Feb

27

Cardinals seem more than ever ready to move WR Boldin

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It appears more than ever that the Cardinals are going to try and move wide out Anquan Boldin, who missed both of the teams playoff games due to injury. The National Football Post reports that the move is going to be made at some point this offseason, and they will look at all options in moving him:

Cardinals general manager Rod Graves reiterated that the team isn’t opposed to the possibility of exploring trade scenarios for wide receiver Anquan Boldin, as they did last year heading into the NFL draft. Ultimately, the Cardinals’ asking price of a first-round draft pick and other selections was too high but this year, the price may have gone down enough to make a trade a more realistic possibility. “We’re open to looking at all the possibilities for Anquan,” Graves said today at the NFL scouting combine. “Right now, he’s an Arizona Cardinal and we’re delighted about that. We’re receptive to taking any calls and we’ll do what’s best for the team. I don’t want to get into specfics, but we’ll look at all the possibilities.” Graves said he hasn’t spoken with Boldin lately. “I’ve been in communication with his representatives,” Graves said. “He knows our position. We’ll see what happens.”

There was plenty of rumors about Boldin being moved last offseason, but it never happened, but it seems like finally he will be in another uniform when the 2010 season starts.

Feb

27

Report says Chargers won’t tender a contract offer to RB Darren Sproles

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It appears that the Chargers are going to do a 180 when it comes to their running back spot for the 2010 season. Today a source stated that the team will not tender a contract to Darren Sproles, allowing the back to test the free agent market this spring.

The move comes just four days after the team released LaDainianTomlinson, who ranks eighth on the all-time rushing list with 12,490 yards. If the Chargers wanted to keep Sproles, they’d have to make him an offer of about $7.3 million.

The Chargers have always valued Sproles as a multiple threat. While they can still talk with Sproles about a long-term deal, other teams might want to give him a shot as a featured back. Sproles has said he believes he can be an every-down back. The Chargers have used him as a backup running back, return man and as a receiver out of the backfield.

He made about $6.6 million last season after being tagged as a franchise player. Tomlinson made about $6 million. Still, the Chargers’ running game ranked second-to-last in the league. Sproles was second to Tomlinson last year with 343 yards and three touchdowns on 93 carries, an average of 3.7 yards per carry. He was fourth with 45 catches for 497 yards and four TDs. He was also the primary kickoff and punt returner and scored on a punt return.

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