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BRYANT'S ACT BECOMING TEDIOUS, CHIEFS SIGN A PAIR & A NEW LOMBARDI ON THE HORIZON

Former Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant is beginning to wear out his welcome with some NFL teams. First he was suspended for the remainder of the season in week four last year for lying to an NCAA investigator. To be honest, the penalty was overkill in my opinion, but if he doesn't lie, he doesn't get suspended. Then he decided to not participate in the physical part of the recent NFL combine promising to show NFL decision-makers what he can do at OSU's pro day on campus tomorrow, March 10th. Then his agent put out the word last night that Dez wasn't going to participate after all. He will have his own private workout on March 25th. These diva-like moves are wearing thin with some teams & it's likely a few have already dropped him from their draft boards. Too many of these kids get really bad advice, they are stuck in the "it's all about me" time warp. Let's get this straight, the NFL was a going concern before Dez Bryant came along & it will continue to function as a profitable entity whether he makes an impact in the league or not. One more thing, it's a privilege to play in the NFL, it isn't a privilege for a team to draft Dez Bryant. Some of these young men need to get over themselves.

Scott Fujita finally got a big-money contract. After cinching a Super Bowl Championship ring, he did what a lot of 30+ players do right after they win that ring, they go looking for one big contract, regardless of where they have to play to get it. The Browns signed Fujita to a 4-year deal with over #11 million guaranteed. They also signed offensive right tackle Tony Pashos to play opposite Pro Bowl left tackle, Joe Thomas. New team boss Mike Holmgren also swung a deal to reunite himself with former Seahawk backup QB Senaca Wallace.

The Chargers gambled & lost. Longtime San Diego nose tackle Jamal Williams was cut in an effort to save a $2.5 million roster bonus. The Chargers thought at his age, 34 in April, he wouldn't get much interest & they could resign him. Wrong, the Denver Broncos continued reshaping their front seven by signing Williams to a 3-year deal. Denver is trying to shore up a miserable run defense, but they're getting considerably older by going the way they've chosen.

Former live tackling dummy, quarterback David Carr, has signed on to be San Francisco's backup. Carr, with  eight NFL seasons under his belt, has been sacked 265 times. He missed part of 2 seasons with injury, was a backup the past two seasons for the Giants & he's still been sacked 265 times. That's frightening. Good luck David.

Former Shawnee Mission West & Kansas State guard, Ryan Lilja, was cut yesterday by the Indianapolis Colts. The 7-year veteran plucked off the waiver wire after being cut from the Chiefs practice squad. Lilja started 50 of 57 games he played with Indianapolis. He's played in two Super Bowls, winning one. Now before everyone starts emailing me about picking Lilja off the scrap heap, know this, he is an undersized, finesse blocker who was cut because GM Bill Polian made it clear the Colts' offensive line wasn't getting the job done. They haven't been able to run the ball consistently for over two years. Lilja became the first casualty in what looks to be a revamping of their line. I'd rather see Wade Smith resigned before they go after Lilja, he's a helluva lot more versatile.

Ben Roethlisberger has been accused again of sexual assault, this time in Georgia. A young woman made the accusations to Millegeville(just a few miles from his off-season home in Macon) police just hours after the alleged incident last Friday night. Fellow Steeler, Willie Colon, was with Roethlisberger all evening & he refutes her story. But at some point both the Steelers & the NFL are going to have to look into Big Ben's choices in off-time recreation. Once again, I have no idea if the allegations are true, but if you keep putting yourself in dicey situations, it's reasonable to expect trouble. That's assuming he's innocent, if he really did something to this woman, then unleash the hounds by all means.

The Chiefs resigned WR Cris Chambers to a new 3-year deal worth $5.9 million in guaranteed money. Since they struck out in their attempts to acquire Anquan Boldin, it was really necessary to sign Chambers. They also signed former Jet/Bear/Cardinal running back, Thomas Jones. He gained 1,402 yards last season & scored 14 touchdowns for the Jets. But as I told you last week, Jones has a lot of miles on those wheels, over 1,500 carries the last 5 seasons & he'll be 32-years old in August. He got a 2-year deal good for $3 million this season & $2 million next. With that kind of money for a backup, how long do you think Jamaal Charles will remain happy & can you blame him?

Who do you think will play legendary coach Vince Lombardi on the big screen? My favorite actor, Robert DeNiro, that's who. Considering how he gets into a character(Jake LaMotta, Travis Bickle, Al Capone), this could be a great football movie, provided there's a script worth producing. Looking forward to hearing more details about this project.

Posted by Rich at 3/9/2010 6:58 PM | Add Comment

COMBINE REVIEW - RUSH(3-4) LINEBACKERS

Like the defensive line positions, linebacker, especially on the outside, is a deep position in April's draft. This was backed up at the combine. Here's how I see this year's group. We'll start at the outside spot in a 3-4 or "rush linebacker", guys of the James Harrison, DeMarcus Ware, Clay Mathews ilk. The Chiefs need added pass rush ability, this position is the perfect place to find it. They need someone playing on the opposite side of Tamba Hali.

Brandon Graham--6' 1" 268
This prospect has a lot to learn but his desire & effort are superior at the linebacker position. He has always played defensive end at Michigan, but he should be able to make this transition & be very productive as an NFL pass rusher. He ran well, 4.69, completed 31 reps in the bench press & his position drills were very good. Graham has a great motor, he never quits, he had an exceptional Senior Bowl week & game. Like all the prospects who make this move from having their hand in the dirt to standing up & having to rush the passer as well as drop into coverage, Graham looks to be best prospect at this position in this draft. Mid-1st round selection.

Jerry Hughes--6' 1" 255
Hughes had a monster combine, yeah, he tested well, but it was in the position specific drills where he really stood out. He showed his balance, explosion & ability to back peddle, flip his hips & run. Hughes has rare closing speed when turning the corner in his pass rush. He ran a 4.57 in the forty plus he did 26 reps in the bench press. Turned in the best 20-yard shuttle at the position. Hughes as always played with his hand on the ground as a defensive end at TCU. I'm a big fan of this guy, I think he can be something special, being really good is important to him. He'll probably be picked after Sergio Kindle, but I think he'll end up being a better pro. Low 1st round to mid-2nd round.

Sergio Kindle--6' 3" 250
He's being compared to Brian Orakpo, another Texas Longhorn taken by Washington early in last April's draft. I think the comparison is a stretch, he didn't have the college production Orakpo did. In fact Kindle has been in coach Mack Brown's doghouse from time to time. He's had a few off-field issues as well. Kindle shows excellent agility, strength & tho he's not as fast as Hughes, he has decent closing speed. His pass drops are very good & he changes directions with ease. Mid to late 1st round selection.

Koa Misi--6' 3" 251
Another guy who will make the transition to the 3-4 linebacker spot. Misi is like so many other Samoan prospects, very quick(top-5 in 3-cone drill & 20-yard shuttle) with a powerful lower body(38" vertical)  & extremely tough. Shows good lateral movement, his drops will need better technique. Good motor & was an All-Academic Mountain West Conference player while at Utah. Has good upside, his father played at Hawaii. Third round talent.

Ricky Sapp--6' 4" 252
Suffered a partially torn ACL last season but Sapp ran well(4.70) at the combine. He wasn't able to participate in any of the agility drills but it's expected he will be 100% by early May. Played both DE & later 3-4 linebacker when Clemson changed their scheme. He can get to the passer with several moves, both outside with quickness & inside with counter moves. He has trouble with running plays right at him, he has difficulty shedding blocks. Very good upside with some good coaching & he needs to invest some serious time in the weight room developing better upper body strength. Third round.

Dexter Davis--6' 1" 244
Very quick & fast(4.64), Davis also showed some strength with 25 reps in the bench press. He has been very productive as a stand-up pass rusher with 30 sacks while at Arizona State. Tho he played DE, he has shown excellent ability to move sideline to sideline in pursuit. He holds his ground well vs. the run. Wasn't as productive as a senior. Better near the line of scrimmage, I saw a couple of missed tackles in the open field. Round four talent.

Jason Worilds--6' 1" 254
This junior recorded 14 sacks in 3 seasons at Virginia Tech. Well conditioned but major injury history makes Worilds a risk. He is an excellent pass rusher as well as showing the athletic ability to drop into coverage. His recognition is questionable but more than anything, it's the 3 shoulder operations in 4 seasons that concern me. He has good explosion(38" vertical) & ran faster than expected at 4.72. Fifth round talent.

Posted by Rich at 3/8/2010 11:37 AM | Add Comment

ANOTHER DUCK IN CUFFS, TEBOW MAKES A SCORE & DO THE CHIEFS REALLY HAVE A WINNING STRATEGY?

Wow, has this been a very bad start for Oregon coach Chip Kelly's second year. Linebacker Josh Kaddu was arrested early Saturday morning for public drunkenness & a minor in possession of alcohol. I know this hardly makes him public enemy #1, but when your program is in the national spotlight for all the wrong reasons, making bad decisions like this only compound the problem. Kaddu was spotted trying to break into an SUV on a city street. When an officer approached, Kaddu didn't respond to commands to cease his efforts to open the locked car door. The SUV owner declined to press charges as there didn't appear to be any damage. Now Kelly has another P.R. mess to deal with & with each passing transgression, the heat gets turned up just a little more out in Eugene.

The Jacksonville Jaguars signed former Packer pass rush specialist, Aaron Kampman. Details of the contract weren't made public. Kampman didn't fit into the Packers new 3-4 defensive scheme employed by D-coordinator Dom Capers last season. He wanted to go back to a 4-3 weak side defensive end spot where he can tee off & go after the quarterback. He got his wish.

Dolphin nose tackle Jason Ferguson was suspended today for the first eight games of next season for PED's(performance enhancing drugs). The 35-year old Ferguson missed the last half of the season with a knee injury. He was an unrestricted free agent & made it clear he would either resign with Miami or retire. With this suspension, look for him to be retired sometime right after his suspension ends.

Tim Tebow hasn't taken a snap in the NFL yet, but he learned how to make a lot of money in a very short period yesterday. He was booked for a public appearance in Florida Saturday & to say he was a big hit is the understatement of the weekend. Nearly 1,500 showed up to pay $160 apiece for his autograph. Honest, one-hundred-sixty dollars per autograph. If you wanted your picture taken with the former Heisman Trophy winner, that was an additional $75. Now I'm a capitalist at heart & Tebow did make it clear a percentage of his fee would go to the Tim Tebow Foundation, apparently a charity, but let's do a little math. At $160 a pop, that's a cool $240,000 for signing 1,500 autographs. Let's say 20% of the autograph seekers also wanted a photo with their hero, that's another $22,500. So if Tebow got 50% of the take, he made $131,250 yesterday. Even after paying his agent, business manager & Uncle Sam, Tebow made at least $80,000. Want to know the truth about Saturday's windfall? Eighty-grand is just a drop in the bucket compared to what he'll make as an NFL player & product pitchman.

The more moves the Chiefs make or attempt to make, the more confused I become. I know they've got some sort of 'Secret Society' over at One Arrowhead Drive now, but c'mon man, what in the hell is going on over there? They resigned Terrance Copper yesterday, which was a BFD huh? Meanwhile Wade Smith, their offensive line swingman(he played 4 diff. positions last year) is booking appointments all over the league. Other than Brian Waters & Brandon Albert, Smith is the least expendable of their up front guys.

Also last night, they booked a visit for former Jet running back Thomas Jones on Monday. Jones has been a very productive runner, especially in the last five seasons with 6,378 yards on 1,541 carries. That's a lot of wear & tear. You also must factor in Jones will be 32 in August, which has to be taken into consideration, running back skill sets can literally fall off the table in less than a season. This is especially true in runners who have this many carries. I know Kansas City needs a dependable backup to Jamaal Charles, but is a 32-year old with nearly bald tires what they're really looking for, really?

There's also been talk that new Cleveland's 'Boss of Bosses', Mike Holmgren, isn't too enamored with nose tackle Shaun Rogers because he freelances too much. Would Romeo Crennell be interested in the 6-4 345-pound Rogers? He's kind of a head case, but when he's ready to play, he's the space-eating, run-stuffer a 3-4 defense needs. Ma'ake Kemoeatu is also a possibility if he can pass a physical before training camp. Ma'ake is recovering from Achilles tendon surgery & still hasn't been cleared to run.

The Chiefs are also working overtime to resign Chris Chambers if that gets you excited. Just seems like more of the same to me. For a team that realistically needs a safety, 3 linebackers, nose tackle, left offensive tackle, guard-center combo player, tight end, backup running back that can actually play in the NFL(as opposed to Jackie Battle) & at least 2 wide receivers, they seem to be going in the wrong direction. If this trend continues, Todd Haley's 'process' is going to take a helluva lot longer than it should. With a talent infusion from the draft, a couple of quality free agents & a favorable 2010 schedule, I honestly thought they could be at least 8-8. Now............well I reserve judgment until I see if Scott Pioli can pull a rabbit out his hat on draft weekend.

Posted by Rich at 3/7/2010 2:43 PM | Add Comment

FREE AGENCY NEWS, CHIEFS FINALLY SIGN SOMEBODY

Linda & I went out with Lynn & Mary this evening. We had a terrific dinner & some excellent conversation. Got a movie("Inglorious Bastards") on the way home & watched it before turning on my laptop to see what had transpired tonight. Did the Chiefs make a move? Well they did actually, but let's look at the other transactions from this evening first.

Safety Antrel Rolle signed with the Giants, a 5-year deal worth $22.5 million in guaranteed money.

Linebacker Karlos Dansby signed with the Dolphins, a 5-year deal worth $22 million in guaranteed money.

Wide receiver Kevin Walter resigned with the Texans, contract details unknown at this time.

Offensive tackle Chad Clifton resigned with the Packers , a 3-yard deal worth $7.5 million in guaranteed money.

Nose tackle Vince Wilfork resigned with the Patriots, a 5-year deal worth $25 million in guaranteed money. I was surprised by this one, I figured with who the Patriots had on their roster, they would franchise him & then let him go next year. Kudos to New England for doing the right thing in an uncapped year.

The Arizona Cardinals traded wide receiver Anquan Boldin & a 5th round draft pick to Baltimore for the Ravens' 3rd & 4th round selections in next month's draft.

Not to be out done, the Kansas City Chiefs went out there & signed a free agent of their own......literally. They resigned RB Jackie Battle, so you can rest easy, they filled that depth chart spot at running back behind Jamaal Charles, Larry Johnson, Kolby Smith, Tim Castille & Javarris Williams. What a relief to know we won't have to sweat that spot. Signing a RB who amassed 21 yards on 7 carries & caught 2 passes for -3 yards is vital to the Chiefs' playoff run. He also contributed 3 tackles on special teams. Maybe he was signed to be a moving tackling dummy. Sorry Jackie, but you could qualify for Todd Haley's "22 guys off the street who can win 2 games" team. So it looks to me like the league's lowest payroll will stay right at the bottom, unless they gave Jackie a bigger deal.

The saddest part of this is by tendering Niswanger, Page, D. Johnson, O'Callaghan etc. The Chiefs are obligated to pay these guys millions for one year & then we'll get to go thru this B.S. again next year. By not signing anybody I think we're looking at another horrid season. They'd rather take a chance on a college receiver with a 2nd round choice than trade a 3rd round choice for Anquan Boldin, a multi-time Pro Bowl performer. Is Scott Pioli's ego so large he believes he can pick 10 winners with 10 picks in the upcoming draft? By not entering the free agent market, that's about what will be needed next month, 10 out of 10. In this uncapped year has Clark Hunt told Pioli to make every nickel count, there by eliminating free agency as a way to improve the team? Have all the free agents plotted against Todd Haley & the Chiefs, not wanting to play in Kansas City?  When you have a paltry $41 million payroll & one guy's slice of the pie amounts to over $12 million, it truly speaks to the ridiculous talent level of your team.

I told you the other day I was naive when it came to the 2010 free agent signing period & our Chiefs. Wow, I really was, I sincerely thought Pioli was going to make a play for a few impact players. Was the hiring of Charlie Weis & Romeo Crennell a smokescreen? Is the plan for them to take Battle, Niswanger, Corey Mays, Ron Edwards, Sean Ryan & Barry Richardson etc. & "coach 'em up?" With some of these guys 'up' is infinity. They are simply not NFL caliber players. Todd Haley will tell us "it's a process." He right, it's a process of filling their fans full of hope & then sitting on their hands doing absolutely nothing to improve the team. Well, except signing Jackie Battle, I don't think that move should be minimized.

Posted by Rich at 3/6/2010 12:28 AM | Add Comment

LIONS, BEARS, COLTS ALL SIGN FREE AGENTS, NOT A PEEP OUT OF THE CHIEFS

One minute after midnight, Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz rang the doorbell of free agent defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch. He was welcomed into the Vanden Bosch home & a little after sunup, Schwartz had his man under contract. Vanden Bosch had played for Schwartz when he was the Titans defensive line coach. Apparently they had a good enough relationship to open that front door last night. The Lions have been desperate to find a pass rush. The 31-year old Vanden Bosch was a consistent sacker when he played for Schwartz, but since he departed Tennessee, the sacks decreased. We'll see if Detroit's sack total increases in 2010.

The Bears don't have a 1st or 2nd round draft pick thanks to trades, but in an uncapped year, they have the green light to go out & get a few high impact free agents. It's about the only way they'll be able to add enough talent to be competitive in the NFC North. The Bears made it clear they were going to be very active once free agency began & so they have. They signed former Charger TE Brandon Manumaleuna to a 5-year deal early this morning. He was the number one priority as the Bears were obligated to pay TE Desmond Clark a $475,000 roster bonus tomorrow. Expect to see Chicago dump the 12-year veteran sometime today. It's a brutal business. Chicago also signed former Viking Chester Taylor, one of the league's best 3rd down running backs. He received a 4-year deal with $7 million in guaranteed dollars. This move is kind of puzzling to me, the Bears already had Matt Forte as their starter & because of his excellent pass catching ability, he played on 3rd down. What the Bears needed in my opinion was an improved offensive line & wide receivers. Defensive end Julius Peppers has been in the Windy City since early this morning & he is expected to sign a mega-million dollar deal by sundown. So that would mean they still haven't signed a wide receiver or an offensive lineman. They essentially haven't helped QB Jay Cutler much & with the huge investment they have in him, one would think they would give him everything he needs in order to succeed.

*UPDATE at 2:15 CST: The Bears & Julius Peppers have indeed come to an agreement on a 5-year contract.

The Colts had two unrestricted free agents, make it only one now, they signed their defensive signal caller, middle linebacker Gary Brackett. This was pretty much a "must" deal from the Colts' stand point. Brackett will sign a 5-year contract, but the dollars haven't been revealed as of yet.

The Carolina Panthers have released defensive linemen Ma'ake Kemoeatu & Damoine Lewis, plus Julius Peppers left in free agency. That leaves them with veteran Tyler Brayton & a bunch of unproven young guys. Any possibility they would take a chance on Glenn Dorsey? They don't have their 1st round pick because of a trade, so I can't see them trading a 3rd rounder for him, but you never know. If Kemoeatu can pass a physical after his Achilles surgery, I'd like the Chiefs to sign him. Veteran space, eating-run-stuffers who are big enough to play nose tackle are hard to find.

Jon Gruden has taken on a pupil to tutor in the ways of an NFL quarterback. Gruden's most famous student was Brett Favre way back in the 90's. The football analyst for ESPN's Monday Night Football worked the previous two days with Tim Tebow. Gruden has also worked with former Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford.

On another front, Mizzou held their Pro Day yesterday & linebacker Sean Weatherspoon made quite an impression on the 20 or so scouts & coaches in attendance. At the combine, 'Spoon' ran a 4.68 40-yard dash & benched 34 reps. Yesterday he ran 4.54 & 4.52 plus he upped his bench press reps by one. Many times players will show improved numbers at their pro days. It's home in an environment they feel comfortable in, sleeping in their own bed & running on a surface they're used to running on unlike Indianapolis. He is right where I predicted him to be a year ago, a first rounder that should go somewhere between picks 24 & 32. The only other serious prospect for the Tigers is WR Danario Alexander, who is unable to do any of the physical drills or testing since he is recovering from knee surgery. D.A. suffered that injury during Senior Bowl practices, but played in the game anyway, only compounding the problem.

Posted by Rich at 3/5/2010 1:35 PM | Add Comment

FREE AGENCY HAS BEGUN, KANSAS CITY TENDERS 4 VETS & A TRADE OF NOTE

The free agent signing period began about two hours ago & even tho there hasn't been a notable signing, there has been a lot of activity.

The Bears have lined up three visits with prominent free agents Julius Peppers, Aaron Kampman & Viking RB Chester Taylor. Pepper's agent said a few minutes ago Chicago was the first choice of his client & "it's their deal to lose." Peppers & Taylor will be in Chicago early this morning.

The Broncos, who don't a center on their roster currently, have scheduled former Brown center, Rex Hadnot, for a visit on Friday.

It is expected there will be a deal within the hour between Atlanta & former Houston cornerback, Dunta Robinson.

The Carolina Panthers just released nose tackle candidate Ma'ake Kemoeatu. The 31-year old run-stuffer missed the entire season last year when he tore his achilles tendon in training camp. He has played for both Baltimore & Carolina. The 6' 5" 345-pound Utah grad, originally from the island nation of Tonga, claims to be completely recovered from the achilles surgery. With other nose tackle guys tied up with franchise tags or new contracts, Kemoeatu is really the only prospect with the experience to play on the nose. He is a load in the middle.

Arizona linebacker Karlos Dansby is flying to Miami, as I write this, for an early morning meeting. Dansby said last week he was interested in only 4 teams in free agency, Miami was one of them.

No word as of yet regarding Arizona safety Antrel Rolle. If he's fielding offers, it's been kept very quiet.

The Lions just signed Nate Burleson, former Seahawk wide receiver to a 5-year deal with $11 million in guaranteed money. This is a very risky move by the Lions, Burleson has had an extremely erratic career and never two consecutive really productive years in a row. He's had injuries & often he just hasn't given a great effort. At one time, Burleson was a top notch punt returner, bringing back 3 punts over 90-yards. Detroit is desperate to add a veteran receiver to start opposite Pro Bowler Calvin Johnson. This is truly a desperate move in my eyes.

The Chiefs tendered 4 restricted free agents late yesterday. Linebacker Derrick Johnson was tendered as 1st round free agent. What this means is Johnson can listen to offers from any team & whatever deal he is offered, Kansas City has 7 days to match the offer. If they don't match the offer, the team signing Johnson will be required to give the Chiefs their 1st round draft pick. Don't look for Johnson to go anywhere unless he is traded. If they keep him, they are required by the tender to pay Johnson a guaranteed $2,621,000 in 2010. Other restricted free agents, tackle Ryan O'Callaghan, safety Jarrad Page & center Rudy Niswanger all received 2nd round tender, a guaranteed $1,759,000 versus a 2nd round draft pick if they're signed by another team & K.C. declines to match it.

Kansas City also signed veteran linebacker Mike Vrabel, who was an unrestricted free agent. I told you it was doubtful he could return to New England after he slammed owner Robert Kraft in the newspapers.

San Diego traded cornerback Antonio Cromatie to the New York Jets for a 2011 3rd round pick. This will be interesting to watch Cromartie in the Big Apple. He's had nothing but trouble out west. The talented Cromartie picked 10 interceptions during the 2007 season, his second in the league. He's yet to play to that level since despite his talent level being near the top at his position. He began having off-field issues & by late last season it was apparent Cromartie had worn out his welcome in San Diego. The Chargers had already drafted Antoine Cason in the 1st round of the 2008 draft anticipating the time would Cromartie would be shown the door. That time came about two hours ago & now Cromartie can take his off-field baggage & move to New York. He has 7 children with 5 different women all over the country. In December all 5 had filed suit against him for failure to pay child support. Maybe Rex Ryan can kick this kid squarely in the ass & he'll see the light, it wasn't going to happen in San Diego.

I'm heading for bed now, it's going on 2AM, I'll give you an update this morning, as well as later this afternoon & possibly late this evening. So stop back, I'll keep you as up to date as I can. Chiefs' fans keep your fingers crossed.

Posted by Rich at 3/5/2010 12:48 AM | Add Comment

FREE AGENCY BEGINS TONIGHT, CHAD & ERIN GO DWTS, PEYTON HAS SURGERY & SOME CHIEFS' NEWS

I'm going to take a 2-day break from my combine review process as we have some new things to talk about. The NFL free agency signing period begins tonight at 12:01 EST. Things should heat up immediately, if you'll recall that Albert Haynesworth got a $100 million deal about two hours after the signing period began. Several more deals were negotiated before the sun came up. The biggest names to look for tonight would include Julius Peppers, LB Karlos Dansby, WR Brandon Marshall, LB Elvis Dumervill & LB Gary Brackett. This being an uncapped year, it will be interesting to see just how far the owners are willing to go in pursuing some of the highest-priced free agents.

Now that the combine is over, the speculation has begun on just who will go #1 in the draft, a pick currently held by the St. Louis Rams. The sports journalists that cover the league all have their sources & what has come out in the last few days only adds to the confusion. ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli wrote today that the Rams were pretty well locked in on Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamakong Suh. FOXSports John Czarnecki said yesterday "if the draft was held today, the Rams would select Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, no question." About a week ago, ESPN's Adam Shefter guaranteed the Rams would take Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford. Now to make this issue even more muddled, there are numerous reports the Rams have inquired about Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb. The rumored deal would involve the swapping of first round picks, Rams #1 for Eagles #24, plus McNabb. Apparently there is serious talk in Philly of Kevin Kolb taking over the reins. I think this is a dumb deal, especially for St. Louis, but who knows?

Chad Ochocinco & my girl Erin Andrews are going DWTS, that's "Dancing with the Stars" for the uninformed. Chad had to receive permission from Bengal's head coach Marvin Lewis for his participation in the highly rated reality show. If Ochocinco stays alive on the show, he could miss many of the OTA's & mini camp. No big deal for Chad, it's all about him, always has been. As far as Erin's spot on the show, she covers college basketball & football for ESPN & very shortly all of the college hoops will be televised by CBS, so she will be on hiatus until football starts up again in late August. This round of DWTS has some really sleazy contenders, Pamela Anderson, Kevin Federline & Kate Gosselin. I'm pullin' for Erin.

Peyton Manning underwent neck surgery for relief from a pinched nerve. The Colts official statement on his surgery is a classic CYA(cover your ass). They said Peyton's condition really wasn't an injury, which they are mandated by league rules to disclose, but had been bothering him for nearly four years. If that's the case, it stands to reason Manning's condition has worsened with time & if it requires an operation, it ought to be considered for the injury list published every Wednesday by the league(don't want those gambler's being uninformed). The way teams find wiggle room in the injury report rules is very creative at times.

Lots of Chiefs' news this week & let's start with the fact the Kansas City franchise has the lowest payroll in the entire league. That's a good news/bad news item in my opinion. The good news is they aren't paying high salaries to this collection of mostly lame talent. At $41 million, QB Matt Cassel is receiving over 25% of the total outlay for salaries. The bad news is if they don't start spending some money, they will continue to suck at a very high level. They are an astonishing $72 million under last season's salary cap. Yes it's nice to save money in this crappy economy, but with $250 million in stadium renovations to pay for, getting & keeping a competitive team is paramount for fiscal security. I'm going to show my naivety, I honestly believe they are going to spend some real money in free agency beginning tonight. If they don't, it will be hard to explain away this ridiculously low salary figure to the ticket buying public.

Scott Pioli has stated the Chiefs want to re-sign all of their starters who currently qualify for either unrestricted or restricted free agency. That would be Chris Chambers, Mike Brown, Jarrad Page, Derrick Johnson, Rudy Niswanger, Wade Smith, Mike Vrabel, Ryan O'Callaghan & Bobby Wade. I don't see Brown, Niswanger or Wade coming back. They have released Mike Goff, Dantrell Savage & Devard Darling. Vrabel spoke to the New England media last week stating his desire to return to the Pats, but his comments about the Kraft family & NFL ownership in general, might make that move difficult. Today Kansas City signed former Pitt QB Tyler Palko, giving them 4 QB's. I don't think he's more than another warm body for training camp, maybe he's better than Matt Gutierrez, I don't know.

The Arizona Cardinals are willing to part with WR Anquan Boldin for a 3rd round pick in April's draft. The team that trades for him will have to pony up a sizable new contract for the talented, but whiny receiver. If Boldin is still on good terms with Todd Haley I think this is a no-brainer. Even with decent depth in this year's WR talent, I sincerely doubt you can draft a 3rd rounder that can match Boldin's skill set, at least for a couple of years anyway. If the Chiefs aren't even mentioned in trade talk rumors, you'll know Boldin & Haley aren't the best of buds anymore. Possible alternatives to a 3rd round selection might be LB Derrick Johnson or DE Glenn Dorsey & possibly one of their 5th round picks.

Two free agents I'd like to see Kansas City pursue would be Cardinal safety Antrel Rolle & Texan's cornerback Dunta Robinson. Both are 27 years old, which should be the prime of the careers. Rolle was a Pro Bowl selection in '09 & Robinson is a very solid NFL corner. Both have had contract issues with their respective teams, Robinson's was very public, very nasty, last season. Rolle wants to be paid like fellow Cardinal Adrian Wilson but Arizona doesn't want to commit $16 million a season to the safety position. Oh, one other possibility is Patriot cornerback Leigh Bodden. He made 5 interceptions last year along with 55 tackles & 4 forced fumbles. Bodden is excellent in run support & will turn 29 in September.

I've had a number of people tell me Texan wide receiver Kevin Walter would be a great addition to the Chiefs. If they were to sign Boldin, I would agree with that notion, but Walter has spent his career playing opposite one of the league's 3-beat WR's, Andre Johnson. It makes a huge difference in defensive play calling & game plans when you have to account for Johnson on every single snap. Walter has been riding his coat tails for years. He's a very solid #2 receiver, he's still young, he has ideal size(6' 3" 215), is a very good blocker & he has no behavior issues. I just think taking a risk with a receiver like Walter won't get the Chiefs' offense any closer to where Haley & Weis want them to go. If they can't acquire Boldin, they need to draft their potential #1 receiver, based on what I've seen for three seasons, I don't believe Dwayne Bowe will ever be a dependable #1 receiver who can take over a game.

Posted by Rich at 3/4/2010 10:56 AM | Add Comment

DEPTH APPEARS PLENTIFUL ON DEFENSIVE LINE

After 5+ hours of defensive linemen running, jumping, leaping & several pad drills, I have to say my opinion of the defensive linemen was validated. When watching these big guys in games, it's often difficult to form an opinion as to their overall athletic ability. But put them in gym shorts & T-shirts, get several coaches to put them thru their drills & it's easy to see everything. Their balance, flexibility, quickness & fundamental technique is fairly obvious. It isn't the 'end all' demonstration determining if they will become productive defensive linemen, watching them in games is a better barometer of that, but now you know what a coaching staff has to work with from day one. Have they prepared for this day by staying in shape since their season ended? Does the guy you're most interested in pass the eyeball test at the weigh-in? What kind of effort does he expend during the combine? Does he do well during the interview process? I've always found quarterbacks & defensive linemen the toughest to analyze. Both are very difficult positions to play for very different reasons. Quarterbacks have to know where everyone is & where they're going. The throws he is required to make are so difficult less than 30 people on the planet can truly do it well. The defensive lineman's job doesn't take a lot of natural talent, but you are required to carry the absolute most weight possible on your frame & still be able to move quickly. People hit you from every direction, you get held, punched, gouged, tripped, double-teamed & thru it all you have to make plays. Get to the QB, tackle the ball carrier, hold your ground against blockers in the run game, diagnose screens & draws & get your hand in the QB's face. Go till you here the whistle, wait 30 seconds & then do it again. It's a brutal position.

This year's draft looks to have excellent depth on the defensive line led by the two players I believe are the best overall prospects at any position. I also believe Ndamakong Suh of Nebraska & Gerald McCoy of Oklahoma are quite a bit better than any other players with one notable exception, safety Eric Berry. No one else comes close to this trio. All three have been superior producers for their programs, all three can literally take over any game they're playing in by dominating their opposition. There are so many quality D-linemen this year, let's get going.

Ndamakong Suh--6' 4" 307
Father from Cameroon & a Jamaican mother, both serious athletes, both educators, who named their son Ndamakong, which means "House of Spears" in dad's native language. Best college D-lineman I've seen since Reggie White came out of Tennessee in '84. Plays every snap like it's his last. Has been unblockable in Big-12 play the past two seasons. Completely dominating in every phase of the game. In the Big-12 Championship, Texas knew they had to account for Suh on every play & he still had 4 tackles, 3 for loss, 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble & he batted down a pass. He also drug Colt McCoy to the ground 5 other times just after the ball was released. Makes everyone around him better. I see absolutely no weakness in his game & nothing questionable about his effort, Suh always plays to the whistle. He can play any defensive line position except weak side end in a 4-3. Extremely versatile.

Gerald McCoy--6' 4" 295
Just a tad behind Suh overall, he might be quicker but Suh is more powerful. McCoy goes as hard as he can from snap to whistle & doesn't come out of the game too often like many other big guys do. McCoy had little help on the OU line but still made plays. McCoy is also the more polished pass rusher(14.5 career sacks), he blows up plays in the backfield with his quick penetration shooting gaps, 33 tackles for loss. McCoy goes by offensive linemen before they can get into position to block him. One thing I might say about McCoy is he could use some weight room work after only doing 23 reps at the combine. He has a wonderful personality & almost always has a smile on his face. Like Suh, he's very smart. McCoy can play any defensive line position except nose tackle in a 3-4.

Derrick Morgan--6' 3" 266
Excellent overall skills & effort, gets after the passer, sets the edge against the running game. Morgan has long arms, a quick first step when rushing the passer & can run(4.72). This Georgia Tech grad is extremely intelligent & learns quickly. He can start immediately. A 4-3 defensive end & should be a mid 1st round pick.

Jason Pierre-Paul--6' 5" 270
Only played one season at South Florida after two seasons in junior college. He can play right now on passing downs. He will need time in the weight room to add the muscle needed in defending the run. Long 35" arms he uses to keep pass blockers off of him. Every time I saw him this past season, he had a new pass rush move. Great closing speed when a QB is in his sights. Very quick first step rushing the passer. How athletic is Paul? I watched a 6' 5" 270-pound kid do 13 consecutive back hand springs on the field Monday, it was unreal. Never been injured. He will require a lot of coaching but because of his huge upside, I'm ranking him 4th amongst D-linemen & he's a certain top-10 pick.

Dan Williams--6' 2" 327
This prospect wasn't even on my radar before the season began. But Williams improved every time I saw him play. He has obviously responded well to coaching, the week at the Senior Bowl was pretty amazing. He looked better daily & it became apparent Williams could play with the big boys. A run-stuffing wide body, he stays low, uses his hands well & is very tough to block. Never been injured. Williams can play any interior position including nose tackle & should be gone in the top-20 selections of the first round.

Brian Price--6' 1" 302
Very quick interior penetrating tackle with great strength & a killer instinct. Price had 44.5 tackles for loss while at UCLA plus 20.5 sacks, huge totals for a college tackle playing in a quality conference. Can play any of the interior spots even might be tried on the nose. Super productive player who can play right now. First round selection to be sure.

Jared Odrick--6' 5" 305
Odrick is the best Penn State D-lineman in a long time. He needs work but his motor runs all the time & his frame can carry another twenty pounds. He'll need some more weight room work & he needs to play lower, but I like his effort & his ability to disrupt offenses with penetration, he uses his hands well to shed run blockers. His pass rush could be improved with better technique, I'll never question his motor. Can play either DE in a 3-4 or either DT in a 4-3. Late first round.

Carlos Dunlap--6' 6" 277
All the natural ability in the world plus ideal size but this kid is simply overrated. I doubt I could pull the trigger to draft him before the third round even tho some team will stick their neck out to pick him in the first. Too many red flags for me to get too excited about this Florida Gator. Was suspended for the BCS Championship game after being arrested for DUI the week before the game. You know what else sucks about this arrest? In his combine interviews teams say he doesn't take much responsibility for his stupidity. He hasn't done much since the SEC Championship game, he looked winded & somewhat inflexible. He only did 21 reps in the bench press & gave an inconsistent effort in all of the bag drills. He seems to do just enough to get by & may never realize his tremendous potential.

Everson Griffen--6' 3 1/2" 273
This former USC Trojan plays the run as well as any defensive end in this draft. He can cover a lot of ground as well(ran 4.66). He doesn't have much of a pass rush but he looked extremely fluid for a man of his size in every drill I saw him run. Good hand technique too. Strongside end in a 4-3 would be ideal for Griffen & if he can learn a better pass rush, his upside is big. Second round prospect.

Tyson Alualu--6' 3" 295
A candidate for DE in a 3-4 scheme, this former Cal Bear doesn't have any serious flaws. Gives tremendous effort, plays low with a very strong lower body, uses his hands well & is a good run defender. Not much more than a bull rusher vs. the pass but he's tough to block in the run game & that's the primary responsibility of a 3-4 DE. Played in every game as a collegian. Second round prospect.

Alex Carrington--6' 5" 285
Pretty much the same story as Alualu, but Carrington has developed a little better pass rush. Played against lesser competition at Arkansas State but he certainly held his own at the Senior Bowl practices. His lack of big game experience is the only reason I'm ranking him behind Alualu. Second round prospect.

Lamarr Houston--6' 3" 305
Another player who has been on the rise since the end of the regular season. Had an outstanding game in the BCS Championship, a good Senior Bowl week & a solid combine. Plays the run extremely well with 22 tackles for loss in '09 alone plus 8 quarterback sacks, excellent numbers for an interior lineman. Plays sideline to sideline, always goes to the whistle. Houston also has good anticipation rushing the passer as he batted down 12 passes in his Longhorn career. Late second round to early 3rd.

Cam Thomas--6' 4" 330
This former Tar Heel had nose tackle written all over him, but his performance at the combine raised a few questions. Thomas looked too winded too often, he's had a problem keeping his weight in check, but he's been playing at this weight for 2 seasons. He is probably not in shape, doesn't show great discipline right before your biggest job interview to date. When I saw him play, he looked the part, stayed low, tough to block not only because of his girth, but he has very long arms, making it tough for centers & guards to get into his frame. Did 31 reps in the bench press but I still think he can get stronger with work. Early third round talent.

Terrence Cody--6' 4" 354
Also known as Mount Cody, this former Alabama product lost 20 pounds between the Senior Bowl & the Combine. He needs to lose another 10 pounds & shape up, he looked really sloppy with his shirt off during the weigh-in. Reminded me of another Alabama player from last year, Andre Smith. Both need a whole lot of discipline & a sports bra. When either of them run, their jerseys looks like 2 raccoons wrestling in a burlap bag, way too much going on there. Like Thomas, Cody is a prime candidate to play on the nose of a 3-4 defense. He is the consummate wide body run stuffer. If he can get in better shape so he can play more snaps, Cody could be a first round pick. But since we've seen nothing to indicate that is going to happen, I think he'll continue sliding down draft boards league-wide.

Earl Mitchell--6' 3" 285
On the small side for an interior player but his quickness can't be ignored. He ran two sub-4.8 forty yard dashes & his speed translates to every drill I saw him perform. Very quick first step & even quicker acceleration. Mitchell did himself a world of good at the combine, possibly pushing himself into the third round.

Now that's 15 prospects in just the first three rounds, could be more too, I'm not including the 8-10 guys who could play down as defensive ends in a 4-3 or up as linebackers in a 3-4. They'll be ranked seperately with the linebackers.  Defensive line is very deep in this draft.

Two prospects who have fallen dramatically all season & even more leading up to the combine, didn't do themselves any favors in Indianapolis. DE Greg Hardy & DT Arthur Jones have slipped from first round consideration before the season began to at best, late 3rd round consideration. Jones has an excuse in that he suffered a knee injury early on last season. He has recovered but chose to not compete at the combine, bringing into to question his decision making. Hardy was a highly touted defender from Ole Miss & he did little in his senior season, he's put on weight & is obviously out of shape running a pathetic 4.95 on Monday. I would loved to be a fly on the wall during his personal interviews, I'm certain teams interrogated him extensively as to what has happened to his opportunity to play at the next level.

Linebackers will be reviewed tomorrow.

Posted by Rich at 3/3/2010 12:38 AM | Add Comment

COMBINE REPORT - RUNNING BACKS, ANYONE BETTER THAN BEST?

I thought there was some real separation in the running back ranks at the combine. In my opinion, three runners could go in round one, Ryan Mathews of Fresno State, C.J. Spiller of Clemson & Jahvid best of Cal. There is a definite drop-off after these three, a drop-off into the late 2nd or early 3rd round. Rounds 4 thru 6 should provide some real value & even a steal or two. Here are my post-combine running back rankings:

Jahvid Best--5' 10" 199
Blazing speed(4.35), excellent balance, quickness(6.75 in 3-cone which was best) & field vision. A threat from anywhere on the field. Excellent cut-back ability if the defense over pursues to the outside. Excellent, sure-handed pass receiver that can run by any linebacker or safety on the field. Must be accounted for whenever he's in motion or split wide. Has had injury issues, hip cost 3 games in '07, dislocated elbow cost 2 games in '08 & last season he suffered a severe concussion & back injury diving into the endzone against Oregon State, causing him to miss the bowl & all-star competition. First round.

Ryan Mathews--5' 11 218
Very productive downhill runner who ran for 1,808 yards & 19 touchdown with a 6.5 average in 2009. Great stats for a guy who missed a game & a half with a mild concussion. Set an NCAA record for three 70-plus yard touchdown runs in one game early last season against a very good Boise State team. Mathews had 8 touchdowns of 50-plus yards last year. With his speed(4.45), strength(19 reps), leg explosion(36" vertical & 10' broad jump) & quickness(4.33 in 20-yard shuttle), Mathews is a tough runner to stop. Plus he doesn't have a lot of mileage on him, only 524 carries in his career at Fresno State. Tho he wasn't really used in the passing game in college, he caught the ball well at the combine. First round.

C.J. Spiller--5' 11" 196
Super production in his 4 years at Clemson, 3,537 yards & 32 TD's rushing, over 1,300 yards & 11 TD's receiving plus he returned 7 kickoffs & a punt for touchdowns. He scored a TD in every game last season. Spiller is a burner(4.37), a very dependable blocker & an excellent pass receiver. My concern about Spiller is he runs into to far too many piles, I question his field vision & inside cutback ability.He spends too much time looking for home run instead of taking what the defense gives him. He fights for yards, but seldom moves the pile or breaks an inside tackle. All that said, with his ability to catch the ball & return skills, he should be a first round selection.

Montario Hardesty--5' 11 3/4" 225
Very tough downhill runner who doesn't dance around, he breaks a lot of tackles & carries defenders on his back always falling forward. Not a big break away threat but he can consistently move the chains. He's strong(21 reps), has superior leg explosion with position best in vertical & broad jumps plus excellent quickness(top-3 in both 3-cone & 20-yard shuttle). Hardesty has had a knee repaired(2005) & other than some bumps & bruises, he's remained healthy. A decent pass receiver at Tennessee who caught the ball well at the combine. Only 560 carries on Hardesty, so he should have plenty left in the tank. Late 2nd- round to mid 3rd-round.

Toby Gerhart--6' 0" 231
Big, strong, downhill power runner with some quicks. Hits the hole in a hurry & is especially effective running between the tackles. Good pad level, balance & ability to break tackles. Strong enough(22 reps, 3rd in vertical & 5th in broad jump) & quick enough(top-5 in 3-cone drill). Also played outfield for the Stanford baseball team. Not used in the passing game but looked like a natural at the combine. Very determined runner who doesn't shy away from contact. Late 2nd-round to mid 3rd-round.

Jonathan Dwyer--5' 11" 229
Because of the triple option offense Dwyer played in, it's somewhat difficult to forecast how he'll transition to the NFL. The junior rushed for 3,226 yards & 28 TD's at Georgia Tech. Dwyer ran hard on every single carry I saw over the last 2 seasons. He breaks tackles & can bust the long one. I have questions about his vision, in the triple option, Dwyer was fed the ball almost at the line of scrimmage. Since Tech was a running team, Dwyer has little passing game experience, blocking or receiving. He looked stiff, sluggish & slow at the combine, a bad combination. He was considered by many, me included, to be a first round pick going into the 2009 season. Now, I see Dwyer dropping into the late 2nd, early 3rd territory.

Ben Tate--5' 11" 220
Tate's combine was a good news/bad news story. He really stood out in all the tests for speed(4.43) strength(26 reps), leg explosion(2nd best RB in vertical & broad jumps) & quickness(3-cone drill & 20-yard shuttle). So he was looking good going into the position drills. He cut the wrong way in several drills, slipped in a couple & didn't catch the ball well. Tate was handicapped at Auburn with 4 different offensive coordinators in 4 years. He does a good job of hitting the hole & he sees the cutback lane, sticks his foot in the ground & goes. He breaks tackles, protects the ball & has remained healthy thruout his career at Auburn. Not a breakaway threat, but a solid contributor. Round three.

Dexter McCluster--5' 8" 172
He's a mighty mite who's been very productive while at Ole Miss. Only played running back one full season in Oxford, was a wide receiver prior to that. Very dangerous runner who plays much faster than he times(4.58), strong(20 reps) & ultra quick, winning the position 20-yard shuttle by a wide margin. He's a good receiver that catches the ball with his hands, not against his body & is a dangerous return man. Red flags include durability(missed numerous games & practices), size(see durability) & a history of fumbling. Third round.

Joe McKnight--5' 11" 198
The former USC runner was a starter only one season. He was held out of the Emerald Bowl in December because of an investigation into his use of an SUV owned by a sports marketing guy. I don't know that he's an NFL starter who can pack the pigskin 250-300 times, he's never carried the ball more than 165 times in a season. Durability has been a problem, no surgery but several sprains & dislocations that caused him to miss playing time. McKnight has downhill speed but didn't fare well in any of the strength or quickness drills at the combine. He did look decent in the position drills showing good balance & cutting ability. Mid 3rd-round to high 4th round selection.

Anthony Dixon--6' 1/2" 233
Power runner who moves the chains & protects the ball. Nothing flashy, very blue collar-type of runner who had 910 carries at Mississippi State & has remained very durable thruout his career, but is still a definite red flag in my opinion, he's taken a lot of hits. Decent pass receiver as well. Dixon is primarily a between the tackles type of runner, but he's effective in there & his production in the SEC, the toughest defensive conference in the land, speaks for itself. Round four.

Lonyae Miller--5' 11" 221
Ryan Miller's backup at Fresno State, Miller excelled in the speed & strength portions of the combine. He is similar to Miller in that he too is a strong, no-nonsense downhill runner with good vision. Miller rushed for 2,109 yards & scored 20 touchdowns as a backup or sharing the carries for the Bulldogs. He broke a 72-yard touchdown run in '07 & a 90-yard TD gallop in '08. He's not real shifty, but if he gets a crease, he can be very dangerous breaking into the secondary where his strength gets him additional yardage. Miller could be a great value pick somehwere around the sixth round.


Posted by Rich at 3/2/2010 11:37 AM | Add Comment

SUNDAY COMBINE REPORT - SPEED ON DISPLAY, BUT QUARTERBACKS A NO-SHOW

Sunday brought the speed guys into the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis & they put on a show. The wide receivers & running backs turned in some eye-popping times in the 40-yard dash. These two positions, more than any other can actually translate their combine speed to real game speed. You have to watch them run tho as some will take 8-10 steps before they even look up & that will could you killed in the NFL. A 40-yard dash time needs to be taken for what it really is, a reference, not an absolute. Jerry Rice ran two disappointing 4.60 passes at the combine & Cris Carter, who didn't attend the combine, ran an on-campus 4.63. The two of them have over 2,600 receptions & 338 touchdowns between them.

The top four QB's, Bradford, Clausen, McCoy & Tebow didn't throw, tho Tebow did the rest of the physical drills. He & West Virginia's Jarrett Brown showed exceptional athleticism for the position. Tony Pike of Cincinnati put 8 pounds on his very slim frame, he needs another 10, but he threw well. Oregon State's Sean Canfield isn't going to make it in my opinion. This is the second consecutive poor performance on the big stage, weak throws & poor accuracy is a terrible combination for a quarterback. Jevon Snead of Ole Miss was awful as well, he should have returned for his Senior year. He deep passing for pretty decent but everything else was sub-par. His drop needs work, he holds the ball too low in the pocket making his delivery slower. For a prospect who was touted as a 1st-round selection before his junior season began, he's fallen a long way, I can't see him being drafted before the 4th round now. One real intriguing quarterback prospect, John Skelton of Fordham, threw the ball very well & has great size at 6' 5" & 243. I have no concept if he can read a defense, but with his natural talent & passing skills, he could warrant a late round selection.

The wide receivers were first up & many of the guys I was looking at for K.C. did well. Two of the top prospects, Dez Bryant & Georgia Tech's Demaryius Thomas didn't workout due to injury. Thomas broke his foot 10 days ago, Bryant's injury is somewhat of a mystery with more than a few teams beginning to bail on Bryant. He's looking more & more like a high maintenance diva. One NFL player personnel director was quoted as saying "I'd take this guy if he has someone to wake him up everyday, get him to meetings on time, get him to practice on time & get him to games on time." This is an opinion shared by more than a few in attendance yesterday. Some thoughts on wide receivers who performed well yesterday:

Arrelious Benn--6' 1" 219
The Illinois wideout suffered thru a crummy junior year between injuries & QB issues. As a sophomore, Benn was productive & showed skills beyond his years. Benn ran a faster than expected 4.48 yesterday & he had a 37" vertical jump, adding to his chances to be a 1st round pick. Benn is a smooth route runner with good body control & excellent hands. First round.

Golden Tate--5' 11" 199
Did himself a lot of good yesterday running 4.42 in the forty. He is probably the best 'run-after-catch' wideout in this draft, he's more like a running back in the open field. Excellent ball skills & a very tough competitor. Low first round-high second round. Like to see him reunited with Charlie Weis.

Taylor Price--5' 11" 200
This prospect from Ohio of the Mid-American Conference impressed me twice during the season, he was the best receiver at the Senior Bowl & he looked good yesterday. Superior hands & a good route runner with 4.41 speed. His two gauntlet runs were the best of the day.

Emmanuel Sanders--5' 10 186
I was only able to watch Sanders twice with SMU, but he really caught my eye at the East-West Shrine Game. His ability to get into & out of his cuts without gearing down impressed me. His hands were exceptional as well. Running a 4.41 yesterday, then adding a 10' 6" broad jump & a 39 1/2" vertical, Sanders showed he has the speed & athletic ability. I like him a lot & see him as a high 4th round selection, possibly low 3rd.

Some of the prospects who saw their performance cause their stock to drop:

Dezmon Briscoe--6' 2" 207
Here's a kid I was very high on before last season began but father watching his performance at the combine, I was very disappointed. I don't know what Briscoe was doing since Kansas' season ended back in November, but I doubt it was preparing for an NFL career. He looked sluggish running 4.61, he looked slow in other drills as well. He managed only 9 reps in the bench press & was winded after every drill. By the time the wideouts time on the field was over, Briscoe was bent over, grabbing his shorts & sucking wind. I had him as a high 2nd rounder near the end of the season but now I believe he has fallen well into the third round.

Mike Williams--6' 1" 221
This kid is an immature train wreck waiting to happen. He was suspended at Syracuse for the entire 2008 season. He was reinstated last year but got himself suspended before the first game, missing it. He came back to play 6 games before being told he was being suspended for one game again at which point he quit the team. I've heard numerous reports from the personal interviews that make my point for me. Williams takes no accountability for his career at Syracuse. Major red flag. He is big, fast(4.49) & has a good pair of hands but is all that worth the risk a personality like this brings to your team? Fifth round at the earliest if it were up to me.

Jordan Shipley--5' 11" 193
I was really disappointed in Shipley yesterday. He didn't run well(4.57), his gauntlet wasn't very good & he looked too nervous in everything he did. I think he's no better than a mid-3rd round pick now.

Brandon LaFell--6' 2" 211
The LSU prospect had a bad day yesterday in front of everybody that matters in the NFL. He ran slow(4.59), didn't catch the ball consistently, especially in the gauntlet & he had a difficult time keeping his feet. Many thought  LaFell could be a low 1st round selection, I thought he was a solid 2nd round pick, but after yesterday, I'd say Brandon might have dropped into round three.

Other prospects:

Mardy Gilyard--6' 0" 187
He didn't run fast in the forty(4.56), but he jumped 39" in the vertical & his game has always been more quick than fast. He runs good routes, gets separation but sometimes his hands are inconsistent. A game-breaking return man whose quick feet give him the ability to take any kick back all the way. Mid-second to mid-third round pick.

Jacoby Ford--5' 9" 186
Ford ran 'lights out' with a 4.28 in the forty. Unfortunately his speed doesn't often translate to on-field production as he has to gear down too much in his breaks. He has very small hands(7 5/8") & it shows in his inconsistency catching the ball.

Brandon Banks--5' 7" 149
Awesome return man who brought back 5 kickoffs for touchdowns plus he caught 60 passes as a senior. Small, almost frail looking, he is ultra quick & pretty fast too(4.42). The former K-State Wildcat will get drafted as a return man.

Kerry Meier--6' 2" 224
The former Kansas quarterback actually did pretty well yesterday. To me, he's been an intriguing prospect all along. Meier has ideal size, excellent hands & knows how to get open consistently. His 199 receptions & 16 touchdowns the last two seasons is productive in anyone's book. Meier won't run away from the defense(4.62), but he reads coverages like a quarterback, giving him the chance to get open. He ran an excellent 2nd gauntlet & looked good planting his foot & cutting in the short route drills. He'll be a late pick, but I think he has a chance to stick. I know the Chiefs had a scheduled interview with Meier Friday night.

Two other injured prospects I wanted to see were Minnesota's Eric Decker & Mizzou's Danario Alexander. I wanted to see them run & compete in the passing drills. Decker has a Lisfanc fracture in his foot. He's going to need surgery this month to remove a plate & some screws that were installed to mend the fracture. Though I doubt he'll run before the draft, I still think he'll be no worse than a 4th round pick. Alexander on the other hand probably won't be able to run before training camp, if then. He's had his knee repaired 3 times & you wonder if an NFL team will even risk a draft choice on him. Alexander led the nation in receiving yards as a senior & was ahead of Jeremy Maclin on Mizzou's depth chart as a sophomore. He got injured, Maclin got his chance, the rest is history.

I'll have my take on the running backs tonight.




Posted by Rich at 3/1/2010 12:36 PM | Add Comment
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