NEWS, NOTES FROM THE COMBINE & THE NFL
The defensive backs closed out the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine with their workout today. The prospects rated 1-2-3 didn't disappoint either, in fact they rocked the place. LSU's Patrick Peterson, ranked as the #1 cornerback by me & everybody else, ran a blistering 4.32 forty. What makes this time even more impressive is Peterson is 6' & 219-pounds, pretty sizable by cornerback standards. He was excellent in all of the measurable tests & looked smooth & quick in the position drills. Nebraska's Prince Amukamara also made a great showing, the 6' 206-pound corner ran a 4.37 forty & showed why he is ranked as the second best corner in this draft. Colorado's Jimmy Smith ripped off a 4.38 forty & leaped 38" in the vertical jump. The 6' 2" 211-pound corner also looked good in position drills. Miami's Demarcus VanDyke sprinted to a combine-best 4.28 in the forty-yard dash. He wasn't as good in the position drills as his 6' 1" frame carries just 176-pounds & he has a tough time flipping his hips & running.
Prince Amukamara has Nigerian parents who were both Olympic-level athletes in their homeland. They emigrated to the United States & raised a family, Prince & five sisters. The girls are named Princess, Precious, Promise, Peace & Passionate. Honest.
I told you Mizzou's Aldon Smith had what I would call a disappointing workout even tho many of his measurables were in the ballpark of the top prospects. I neglected to mention his 10-yard split in the forty, the first 10-yards of the sprint was a very disappointing 1.78, which placed him near the bottom of defensive ends. Coaches are often more concerned by the 10-yard time because offensive & defensive linemen rarely run 40-yards on one play.
I also neglected to mention Tiger quarterback Blaine Gabbert made a very good showing in the measured tests. In fact he ran a 4.61 forty, way fast for a quarterback. His 3-cone drill, vertical & broad jumps were top-5 amongst the QB's. He measured in at exactly 6' 4" & 234 with a 10" hand. He did not throw, preferring to wait until Mizzou's pro day on March 17.
Junior Running back Morgan Steward of Kansas City gave Gary Pinkel an oral commitment to be part of the 2012 recruiting class. The 5' 9" 190-pound runner from Staley High School went to Columbia just for a tour of the football facilities, but said he liked what he saw & had no problem making his commitment official on Tuesday.
To answer SMSGT Flores, undrafted free agents cannot be signed after the draft by NFL teams until there is a new CBA.
Pittsburgh wide receiver Hines Ward will pursue a new endeavor as he will join the cast of Dancing With the Stars this season.
If you're a Bengals' fan, you don't want to hear this "I will never set foot in Paul Brown Stadium again." That quote is from Cincy starting quarterback Carson Palmer who requested a trade a month ago. He added "I have almost $80 million in the bank, it's not about money, it's about going somewhere else to play." With Carson's younger brother Jordan & J.T. O'Sullivan currently the only other quarterbacks on the depth chart, I'm guessing the Bengals might be in the quarterback derby in this draft next month.
The Jets released defensive end Vernon Gholston on Tuesday. He was the sixth overall pick in the 2008 draft & is a total bust. He is the only defensive end drafted in the 1st round not to record a quarterback sack since the league began keeping record in the early 80's.
For those of you who were really hot on the Chiefs signing defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, forget it, he signed today with New Orleans for less money than he had been offered elsewhere. I don't know where "elsewhere" is, but he & his agent said his Saints deals was worth $2 million less than another contract he'd been offered "elsewhere."
I told you yesterday one of the problems the players union will have is many of their members didn't take the possibility of a work stoppage seriously. When they start missing paychecks, the bitching & complaining will commence almost immediately. Here's one reason I know this is true. Eagles rookie defensive end Brandon Graham said several teammates have "jokingly" asked about loans ranging from $30K up to $100K already. Graham still has his signing bonus, some $4.6 million, so some of the wilder spending Eagles are already lining up for a loan. He said they were "half-joking, but I knew they were serious, if I'd offered the money, they would have taken it." Graham made it clear to teammates he would not loan money to anyone in the Eagle locker room. What did I tell you?
The NFLPA & league ownership spent another 6-hours behind closed doors today & have promised to do the same again on Wednesday. If they could get one of the big three stumbling blocks ironed out, there is a slight chance they could agree to an extension & avoid a lockout. Once again, I don't see it happening before the midnight Thursday deadline. Then, if the owners call for a lockout, any negotiations will cease, probably for months. Remember in those WWII submarine movies where 2 opposing subs rig for silent running so as to avoid the other sub's sonar detection? Beginning on Friday, both sides might rig for "silent running", waiting for the other side to move first.
Most NFL franchises have already made their plans for an extended work stoppage. The Chiefs won't lay any one off for up to a year, but executives & the coaching staff will take an immediate 20% hit on their paychecks & all other team employees will see nearly a 10% reduction in pay beginning next week. If a new CBA is reached in time for a full preseason schedule, all of the payroll reductions will be reimbursed.
The Jets will also reimburse if the preseason is saved, but their executives & coaching staff will see an immediate 25% payroll hit followed by an additional 25% in 90-days if a new CBA isn't reached.
There's a lot of talk online about possible major NCAA sanctions against one of college football's perennial powers. Who & why is still just rumored, so until something a little more solid is uncovered, I'll keep it to myself.
Prince Amukamara has Nigerian parents who were both Olympic-level athletes in their homeland. They emigrated to the United States & raised a family, Prince & five sisters. The girls are named Princess, Precious, Promise, Peace & Passionate. Honest.
I told you Mizzou's Aldon Smith had what I would call a disappointing workout even tho many of his measurables were in the ballpark of the top prospects. I neglected to mention his 10-yard split in the forty, the first 10-yards of the sprint was a very disappointing 1.78, which placed him near the bottom of defensive ends. Coaches are often more concerned by the 10-yard time because offensive & defensive linemen rarely run 40-yards on one play.
I also neglected to mention Tiger quarterback Blaine Gabbert made a very good showing in the measured tests. In fact he ran a 4.61 forty, way fast for a quarterback. His 3-cone drill, vertical & broad jumps were top-5 amongst the QB's. He measured in at exactly 6' 4" & 234 with a 10" hand. He did not throw, preferring to wait until Mizzou's pro day on March 17.
Junior Running back Morgan Steward of Kansas City gave Gary Pinkel an oral commitment to be part of the 2012 recruiting class. The 5' 9" 190-pound runner from Staley High School went to Columbia just for a tour of the football facilities, but said he liked what he saw & had no problem making his commitment official on Tuesday.
To answer SMSGT Flores, undrafted free agents cannot be signed after the draft by NFL teams until there is a new CBA.
Pittsburgh wide receiver Hines Ward will pursue a new endeavor as he will join the cast of Dancing With the Stars this season.
If you're a Bengals' fan, you don't want to hear this "I will never set foot in Paul Brown Stadium again." That quote is from Cincy starting quarterback Carson Palmer who requested a trade a month ago. He added "I have almost $80 million in the bank, it's not about money, it's about going somewhere else to play." With Carson's younger brother Jordan & J.T. O'Sullivan currently the only other quarterbacks on the depth chart, I'm guessing the Bengals might be in the quarterback derby in this draft next month.
The Jets released defensive end Vernon Gholston on Tuesday. He was the sixth overall pick in the 2008 draft & is a total bust. He is the only defensive end drafted in the 1st round not to record a quarterback sack since the league began keeping record in the early 80's.
For those of you who were really hot on the Chiefs signing defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, forget it, he signed today with New Orleans for less money than he had been offered elsewhere. I don't know where "elsewhere" is, but he & his agent said his Saints deals was worth $2 million less than another contract he'd been offered "elsewhere."
I told you yesterday one of the problems the players union will have is many of their members didn't take the possibility of a work stoppage seriously. When they start missing paychecks, the bitching & complaining will commence almost immediately. Here's one reason I know this is true. Eagles rookie defensive end Brandon Graham said several teammates have "jokingly" asked about loans ranging from $30K up to $100K already. Graham still has his signing bonus, some $4.6 million, so some of the wilder spending Eagles are already lining up for a loan. He said they were "half-joking, but I knew they were serious, if I'd offered the money, they would have taken it." Graham made it clear to teammates he would not loan money to anyone in the Eagle locker room. What did I tell you?
The NFLPA & league ownership spent another 6-hours behind closed doors today & have promised to do the same again on Wednesday. If they could get one of the big three stumbling blocks ironed out, there is a slight chance they could agree to an extension & avoid a lockout. Once again, I don't see it happening before the midnight Thursday deadline. Then, if the owners call for a lockout, any negotiations will cease, probably for months. Remember in those WWII submarine movies where 2 opposing subs rig for silent running so as to avoid the other sub's sonar detection? Beginning on Friday, both sides might rig for "silent running", waiting for the other side to move first.
Most NFL franchises have already made their plans for an extended work stoppage. The Chiefs won't lay any one off for up to a year, but executives & the coaching staff will take an immediate 20% hit on their paychecks & all other team employees will see nearly a 10% reduction in pay beginning next week. If a new CBA is reached in time for a full preseason schedule, all of the payroll reductions will be reimbursed.
The Jets will also reimburse if the preseason is saved, but their executives & coaching staff will see an immediate 25% payroll hit followed by an additional 25% in 90-days if a new CBA isn't reached.
There's a lot of talk online about possible major NCAA sanctions against one of college football's perennial powers. Who & why is still just rumored, so until something a little more solid is uncovered, I'll keep it to myself.
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